Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratory worksheet with answers

Free printable Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratory worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

What is an embolus?

  1. AA bulge in the weakened wall of an artery that may rupture
  2. BA narrowing of an artery caused by a build-up of fatty plaque
  3. CA clot that stays fixed in the vessel where it first formed
  4. DA clot or other mass that travels in the blood and lodges elsewhere
2.Easy

Which drug is commonly used to slow the heart rate in atrial fibrillation?

  1. ABisoprolol (a beta-blocker)
  2. BFurosemide (a loop diuretic)
  3. CAmlodipine (a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker)
  4. DAtorvastatin (a statin)
3.Easy

What does an SpO₂ reading measure?

  1. AThe percentage of haemoglobin carrying oxygen
  2. BThe total haemoglobin level
  3. CThe amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood
  4. DThe oxygen level in the brain
4.Medium

How should a patient breathe in when using a dry powder inhaler?

  1. ASeveral times, breathing out into the device between breaths
  2. BQuickly and deeply, after breathing out away from the device
  3. CSlowly and gently over about ten seconds
  4. DThrough the nose with the mouthpiece in the mouth
5.Medium

A patient stops ramipril because of a troublesome dry cough. Which drug class is a common alternative?

  1. AAn angiotensin II receptor blocker such as losartan
  2. BA loop diuretic such as furosemide
  3. CA non-selective beta-blocker such as propranolol
  4. DA nitrate such as isosorbide mononitrate
6.Medium

A patient has a prosthetic heart valve. Which teaching best reduces the risk of infective endocarditis?

  1. AKeep teeth and gums healthy with regular dental check-ups
  2. BAvoid all physical exercise for the rest of their life
  3. CTake a daily antibiotic tablet indefinitely
  4. DAvoid eating dairy products and raw vegetables
7.Hard

Three weeks after a myocardial infarction, a patient has fever, pleuritic chest pain that eases on leaning forward and a pericardial friction rub. Which condition is most likely?

  1. AAcute left ventricular failure
  2. BPost-MI (Dressler's) syndrome
  3. CA new STEMI in another artery
  4. DAcute aortic dissection
8.Hard

A patient with pneumonia has a temperature of 39 °C, pain and a sinus tachycardia of 122/min. BP is normal. What is the best way to manage the heart rate?

  1. AGive IV adenosine
  2. BTreat the fever, pain and possible dehydration, then reassess
  3. CArrange urgent electrical cardioversion to restore a normal rate
  4. DGive a beta-blocker to bring the heart rate below 100/min

Answer key

  1. 1. D · A clot or other mass that travels in the blood and lodges elsewhere
  2. 2. A · Bisoprolol (a beta-blocker)
  3. 3. A · The percentage of haemoglobin carrying oxygen
  4. 4. B · Quickly and deeply, after breathing out away from the device
  5. 5. A · An angiotensin II receptor blocker such as losartan
  6. 6. A · Keep teeth and gums healthy with regular dental check-ups
  7. 7. B · Post-MI (Dressler's) syndrome
  8. 8. B · Treat the fever, pain and possible dehydration, then reassess

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