Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC) Exam
Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC) Exam is a trademark of its owner, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse Test Treasure Publication or TTP Prep.
Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC) Exam is a trademark of its owner, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse Test Treasure Publication or TTP Prep.
10 sample questions for the Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Certification (CV-BC) Exam, with the correct answer and an explanation for each. No account needed. Try each one before you open the answer.
Sections covered on the exam: Assessment and Diagnosis, Planning and Implementation, Evaluation and Modification, Patient and Community Education.
Question 1 · Assessment and Diagnosis
Answer: B. Pulsatile epigastric mass with an audible abdominal bruit
A pulsatile epigastric or periumbilical mass, often with an abdominal bruit, is the classic examination finding of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in an older male smoker. Bluish periumbilical discoloration is Cullen sign, which points to retroperitoneal bleeding such as hemorrhagic pancreatitis rather than an intact aneurysm. Peristaltic waves and lower-quadrant dullness suggest bowel obstruction or ascites.
Question 2 · Assessment and Diagnosis
Answer: A. severe aortic stenosis
Exertional angina, syncope, and dyspnea or heart failure are the classic symptom triad of severe aortic stenosis, and a harsh crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur at the right upper sternal border radiating to the carotids is its characteristic sound. Aortic regurgitation produces a diastolic decrescendo murmur. Mitral regurgitation produces a holosystolic murmur at the apex that radiates to the axilla.
Question 3 · Planning and Implementation
Answer: B. Post-implantation syndrome from inflammation after grafting
Post-implantation syndrome is a common, self-limited inflammatory response in the first days after EVAR that causes fever, leukocytosis, and elevated CRP with negative cultures, and it is managed supportively with antipyretics. Graft infection is the tempting choice, but it is rare, usually appears later, and does not fit negative cultures and clean sites this early. An endoleak with rupture or a retroperitoneal hematoma would cause hemodynamic change or a falling hemoglobin rather than isolated fever.
Question 4 · Evaluation and Modification
Answer: C. High-dose aspirin in divided doses
These findings describe post-MI (Dressler) syndrome, an immune-mediated pericarditis treated with high-dose aspirin, often with colchicine. Nonaspirin NSAIDs and early corticosteroids are avoided after MI because they can impair myocardial scar healing and raise rupture risk. Full anticoagulation is avoided because it increases the risk of hemorrhagic pericardial effusion.
Question 5 · Patient and Community Education
Answer: A. Vicarious experience
Watching a similar peer succeed is vicarious experience, which raises confidence because the observer judges that he shares the model's abilities. It is not mastery experience, because the patient has not yet performed the task himself.
Question 6 · Assessment and Diagnosis
Answer: C. Imaging of the abdominal aorta and the left popliteal artery
Popliteal aneurysms are frequently bilateral and are associated with an abdominal aortic aneurysm in a large share of patients, so the abdominal aorta and the opposite popliteal artery should be imaged. Popliteal aneurysms can compress the popliteal vein, but routine venous imaging is less important than finding a coexisting aneurysm. The main threat from a popliteal aneurysm itself is thrombosis or distal embolization causing acute limb ischemia.
Question 7 · Assessment and Diagnosis
Answer: D. 2
On the NIH Stroke Scale motor arm item, a score of 2 means some effort against gravity, with the arm drifting down to the bed before 10 seconds. A score of 1 is drift that does not hit the bed or other support, 3 is no effort against gravity (the limb falls), and 4 is no movement. Precise scoring matters because NIHSS totals guide thrombolytic and thrombectomy decisions.
Question 8 · Planning and Implementation
Answer: C. Colonic ischemia from loss of inferior mesenteric artery flow
Bloody diarrhea, distension, and rising lactate within the first days after open AAA repair point to colonic ischemia, usually of the sigmoid colon, from ligation or loss of inferior mesenteric artery flow; it needs urgent evaluation. Aortoenteric fistula also causes GI bleeding but is typically a late complication occurring months to years after repair.
Question 9 · Evaluation and Modification
Answer: B. Urine output of 20 mL/h for the past 3 hours
Urine output of 20 mL/h in an 80 kg patient is 0.25 mL/kg/h, below the 0.5 mL/kg/h threshold, and may signal low cardiac output, hypovolemia or acute kidney injury after bypass. Chest tube drainage of 60 mL/h is within expected limits; concern rises with sustained output over about 100 to 200 mL/h. A low-grade temperature early after cardiopulmonary bypass is a common inflammatory response.
Question 10 · Patient and Community Education
Answer: B. I know walking would help my heart, but I don't think I could keep it up on my own
Self-efficacy is a person's belief in the ability to perform a behavior, so a patient who knows walking helps but doubts he could keep it up on his own has knowledge without confidence. The nervous patient who plans to start slowly expresses some anxiety but still shows confidence and a plan.
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