ANCC Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification Examination Practice Test
Cardiac-vascular nursing practice involves assessing cardiovascular status, recognizing changes that require urgent action, and supporting patients with acute and chronic heart conditions. This question set samples clinical situations involving rhythm disturbances, implanted pacemakers, coronary syndromes, heart failure, aortic emergencies, peripheral arterial disease, and cardiovascular medication management.
Exam overview
About the ANCC Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification Examination Exam
Effective cardiac-vascular nursing requires linking symptoms, vital signs, diagnostic findings, and treatment risks to timely care decisions. Practice scenarios address instability in tachyarrhythmias, possible complications after pacemaker implantation, and immediate priorities when acute aortic dissection is suspected. Other decisions include reducing myocardial oxygen demand in stable angina, monitoring electrolytes during loop-diuretic therapy, and explaining anticoagulation safety to a patient with atrial fibrillation. Chronic-care tasks include reinforcing sodium-conscious food choices, promoting activity when heart failure is stable, and describing cardiac rehabilitation after acute coronary syndrome. Peripheral arterial disease questions test recognition of intermittent claudication and its significance. Together, these situations call for focused assessment, medication and device awareness, patient education, and prioritization when cardiovascular status may deteriorate.
Sample Practice Questions
Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.
A patient has a newly implanted transvenous pacemaker. Which finding should the nurse report promptly because it may indicate lead displacement or another device complication?
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Correct answer: APersistent or recurrent hiccups after pacemaker implantation may reflect diaphragmatic stimulation from lead displacement or another device-related issue and warrants prompt assessment. Mild improving incisional soreness and a stable small bruise can occur during healing.
A patient with stable angina is discussing ways to reduce myocardial oxygen demand during exertion. Which strategy is most appropriate?
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Correct answer: APacing activity and resting when symptoms occur can reduce cardiac workload and help prevent worsening angina. Patients should follow their individualized activity and medication plan and seek urgent care for symptoms that are new, severe, or persistent.
A patient with a regular narrow-complex tachycardia becomes hypotensive, confused, and diaphoretic. Which intervention should the nurse anticipate as a priority?
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Correct answer: AA tachyarrhythmia causing hemodynamic instability requires urgent treatment. Synchronized cardioversion is generally indicated for unstable tachycardia with a pulse; unsynchronized defibrillation is used for pulseless rhythms or selected polymorphic ventricular tachycardias.
A patient is discharged after treatment for acute coronary syndrome and asks why cardiac rehabilitation was recommended. Which response best describes a principal benefit?
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Correct answer: ACardiac rehabilitation combines individualized, supervised exercise with education and support for risk-factor management and recovery. It is appropriate for many patients after acute coronary events or procedures and does not replace prescribed therapy.
A patient with chronic heart failure is prescribed furosemide. Which laboratory result is most important to monitor for a potentially serious medication-related abnormality?
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Correct answer: AFurosemide is a loop diuretic that can increase urinary potassium loss. Monitoring serum potassium helps identify hypokalemia, which can contribute to weakness and cardiac dysrhythmias.
A patient with chronic heart failure asks why the care team recommends regular physical activity when symptoms are stable. Which response is most accurate?
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Correct answer: AFor many clinically stable patients, individualized exercise or cardiac rehabilitation can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. Activity should follow the care team's recommendations and be advanced gradually; it does not replace prescribed medications.
A patient with a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation is prescribed apixaban. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
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Correct answer: CAnticoagulation reduces stroke risk in appropriate patients with atrial fibrillation and should not be stopped without guidance from the prescribing clinician, even if symptoms or rhythm seem improved. Bleeding precautions and medication-interaction review are also important.
How to use this practice test
The free US Practice Tests bank contains 50 published questions for this exam. Each session presents up to 20 questions selected at random from the bank, with results shown after the session. Use the results to identify which cardiovascular decisions or concepts need further review.
Preparation tips
- For rhythm scenarios, compare the patient’s stability—especially blood pressure and mental status—with the ECG pattern before considering the priority response.
- Review pacemaker complication signs and connect new symptoms or abnormal findings with possible lead displacement or impaired device function.
- Practice explaining heart failure self-management, including sodium choices, activity when stable, and laboratory monitoring for furosemide-related electrolyte changes.
- Contrast stable angina, acute coronary syndrome, and suspected aortic dissection by symptom pattern and urgency; include the nursing priorities indicated in each scenario.
- Rehearse patient teaching on apixaban safety, cardiac rehabilitation, and the exertional calf pain pattern associated with peripheral arterial disease.