Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratory worksheet with answers

What is bronchiectasis?

1. AA tumour of the main bronchus
2. BA brief spasm of the airways that fully reverses with treatment
3. CPermanent widening of the bronchi with chronic sputum
4. DDestruction of the alveolar walls with air trapping

Which blood test is most specific for damage to the heart muscle?

1. AC-reactive protein
2. BCreatine kinase (total)
3. CCardiac troponin
4. DLactate dehydrogenase

Which structure is the heart's natural pacemaker?

1. AThe sinoatrial (SA) node
2. BThe Purkinje fibres
3. CThe atrioventricular (AV) node
4. DThe bundle of His

A patient in cardiac rehabilitation asks how hard to exercise. Which simple guide is commonly taught?

1. AExercise until they are too breathless to speak at all
2. BExercise so they are a little breathless but can still talk
3. CExercise only until the heart rate rises even slightly
4. DExercise until chest pain starts, then stop

How does digoxin help a patient with atrial fibrillation and heart failure?

1. AIt slows AV node conduction and increases contractility
2. BIt lowers potassium to stabilise the heart
3. CIt speeds conduction through the AV node to the ventricles
4. DIt dissolves clots that have formed in the left atrium

A patient with COPD is prescribed long-term oxygen therapy. How many hours a day is it usually needed to improve survival?

1. AAbout one hour each morning
2. BOnly when walking outside
3. COnly during meals
4. DAt least 15 hours a day

As the defibrillator charges, a nurse sees a colleague still holding the patient's bed rail. What should the nurse do?

1. ADeliver the shock now, as the bed rail is not part of the patient
2. BAsk the colleague to hold the patient's hand instead
3. CTurn off the defibrillator and start a new cycle of CPR
4. DCall clearly for everyone to stand clear and check before the shock

A patient who had a coronary stent after an NSTEMI asks why they take two antiplatelet drugs. Which answer is most accurate?

1. AThe two drugs lower cholesterol so new blockages cannot form
2. BThe second drug protects the stomach lining from the aspirin
3. CThe second drug dissolves the clot that caused the original heart attack
4. DTwo pathways are blocked, protecting the stent, but bleeding risk rises