ATI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR 2019 FORM A
1. The nurse suspects the patient has increased afterload. Which piece of equipment should
the nurse obtain to determine the presence of this condition?
a. Pulse oximeter
b. Oxygen cannula
c. Blood pressure cuff
d. Yankauer suction tip catheter
Answer: c. Blood pressure cuff
Rationale:
A blood pressure cuff is needed. The diastolic aortic pressure is a good clinical measure of
afterload. Afterload is the resistance to left ventricular ejection. In hypertension the afterload
increases, making cardiac workload also increase. A pulse oximeter is used to monitor the
level of arterial oxygen saturation; it will not help determine increased afterload. While an
oxygen cannula may be needed to help decrease the effects of increased afterload, it will not
help determine the presence of afterload. A Yankauer suction tip catheter is used to suction
the oral cavity.
2. A patient has heart failure and cardiac output is decreased. Which formula can the nurse
use to calculate cardiac output?
a. Myocardial contractility × Myocardial blood flow
b. Ventricular filling time/Diastolic filling time
c. Stroke volume × Heart rate
d. Preload/Afterload
Answer: c. Stroke volume × Heart rate
Rationale:
Cardiac output can be calculated by multiplying the stroke volume and the heart rate. The
other options are not measures of cardiac output.
3. A patient’s heart rate increased from 94 to 164 beats/min. What will the nurse expect?
a. Increase in diastolic filling time
b. Decrease in hemoglobin level
c. Decrease in cardiac output
d. Increase in stroke volume
Answer: c. Decrease in cardiac output
Rationale:
With a sustained heart rate greater than 160 beats/min, diastolic filling time decreases,
decreasing stroke volume and cardiac output. The hemoglobin level would not be affected.
4. The nurse is careful to monitor a patient’s cardiac output. Which goal is the nurse trying to
achieve?
a. To determine peripheral extremity circulation
b. To determine oxygenation requirements
c. To determine cardiac dysrhythmias
d. To determine ventilation status
Answer: a. To determine peripheral extremity circulation
Rationale:
Cardiac output indicates how much blood is being circulated systemically throughout the
body to the periphery. The amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle each minute is the
cardiac output. Oxygen status would be determined by pulse oximetry and the presence of
cyanosis. Cardiac dysrhythmias are an electrical impulse monitored through ECG results.
Ventilation status is measured by respiratory rate, pulse oximetry, and capnography.
Capnography provides instant information about the patient’s ventilation. Ventilation status
does not depend solely on cardiac output.
