Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Human Anatomy & Medicine

NCLEX Perfusion Quiz: Test Your Cardiac Perfusion Skills

Sharpen Your Perfusion NCLEX Practice: Dive In Now!

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Sandra PinedaUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art heart and vessels on coral background NCLEX perfusion quiz 10 targeted questions boost cardiac exam readiness

Use this NCLEX perfusion quiz to practice key cardiac perfusion topics in 10 quick questions and find gaps to review before the exam. When you finish, try our perfusion practice set or explore more cardiac nursing questions to keep your skills sharp.

A patient with suspected acute coronary syndrome arrives. What is the highest-priority initial nursing action to optimize myocardial perfusion?
Obtain a 12-lead ECG within 10 minutes of arrival
Administer morphine 4 mg IV immediately
Send the patient directly to CT imaging
Place the patient NPO and await provider orders
undefined
Beta-blockers improve myocardial perfusion primarily by which mechanism in acute coronary syndrome?
Thrombolyzing coronary clots to restore patency
Reducing heart rate and contractility to lower oxygen demand
Increasing coronary vasodilation directly via nitric oxide
Raising blood pressure to augment coronary flow
undefined
For a patient with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the preferred reperfusion strategy in a PCI-capable facility is:
High-dose heparin alone without reperfusion
Thrombolytic therapy within 6 hours regardless of PCI access
Percutaneous coronary intervention with door-to-balloon time <= 90 minutes
Emergent CABG for all proximal lesions
undefined
After administering IV furosemide for pulmonary edema, which change best reflects improved cardiac perfusion?
New ventricular ectopy on telemetry
Decreased pulmonary crackles and improved oxygen saturation
Widened pulse pressure with rising diastolic BP
Increased jugular venous distension
undefined
For a patient with nonhemorrhagic hypotension and poor perfusion, the first fluid of choice is typically:
Isotonic crystalloid (e.g., normal saline or lactated Ringer)
D5W free water
Hypertonic saline 7.5%
Colloid albumin 25% bolus
undefined
The nurse positions a hypotensive patient with signs of poor cerebral perfusion. Which position is most appropriate initially?
High Fowler position at 90 degrees
Prone with head flat
Left lateral decubitus
Supine with legs elevated (modified Trendelenburg)
undefined
Which physical test is used to assess collateral perfusion of the hand before radial artery cannulation?
Homan sign
Allen test
Tinel sign
Murphy sign
undefined
Preferred target for mean arterial pressure (MAP) to maintain adequate organ perfusion in septic shock after initial resuscitation is:
>= 75 mm Hg
>= 55 mm Hg
>= 65 mm Hg
>= 85 mm Hg
undefined
Sublingual nitroglycerin is contraindicated in a hypotensive patient who used sildenafil within 24 to 48 hours because it may cause:
Severe synergistic vasodilation and life-threatening hypotension
Coronary vasospasm from rebound alpha activation
Hyperkalemia from cellular potassium shifts
Bradyarrhythmia due to AV nodal blockade
undefined
Which assessment finding best indicates worsening peripheral perfusion in acute heart failure?
Cool, mottled extremities with delayed capillary refill
Orthopnea without change in skin temperature
Pink frothy sputum with warm extremities
Bounding peripheral pulses and warm skin
undefined
Which lab value most specifically confirms myocardial injury affecting perfusion?
Elevated myoglobin
Elevated CK total
Elevated LDH
Elevated high-sensitivity troponin
undefined
Which ECG change most suggests transmural ischemia requiring emergent reperfusion to restore perfusion?
QRS widening without ST change
ST-segment elevation in contiguous leads with reciprocal depression
Isolated T-wave inversion in aVL only
Sinus bradycardia with first-degree AV block
undefined
In acute pericardial tamponade, which classic triad reflects impaired cardiac filling and perfusion?
Bradycardia, clear lungs, S3 gallop
Hypertension, bounding pulses, loud S1
Fever, rash, arthralgia
Hypotension, distended neck veins, muffled heart sounds
undefined
A widened pulse pressure is a classic finding of cardiogenic shock.
True
False
undefined
Which physiologic event primarily drives coronary artery perfusion in a healthy adult at rest?
Right atrial contraction enhancing coronary sinus flow
Diastolic aortic recoil creating pressure in the coronary ostia
Systolic ejection increasing ventricular wall tension
Pulmonary venous return boosting left atrial preload
undefined
In cardiogenic shock, which hemodynamic pattern is most consistent with impaired perfusion?
Low cardiac index, high PAWP, high SVR
Low cardiac index, low PAWP, low SVR
High cardiac index, low PAWP, low SVR
Normal cardiac index, low PAWP, high SVR
undefined
The primary purpose of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) in cardiogenic shock is to:
Increase preload by enhancing venous return
Provide full cardiac output replacement
Augment diastolic pressure to increase coronary perfusion and reduce afterload
Correct arrhythmias by pacing the ventricles
undefined
In an acute inferior wall MI, which complication can most directly reduce cardiac output and systemic perfusion early?
Right ventricular infarction causing preload dependency and hypotension
Hyperthyroidism increasing metabolic demand
Aortic dissection leading to cardiac tamponade
Pulmonary embolism blocking pulmonary perfusion
undefined
Ankle-brachial index (ABI) value that indicates peripheral arterial disease impairing limb perfusion is:
<= 0.90
1.0 to 1.3
>= 1.4 always normal
0.95 to 1.05 indicates moderate disease
undefined
During nitroprusside infusion for hypertensive emergency, which lab should be monitored to avoid impaired tissue perfusion from toxicity?
Serum digoxin level daily
Serum cyanide/thiocyanate levels with prolonged/high dosing
Serum lithium level every 2 hours
Creatine kinase MB hourly
undefined
0

Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Hemodynamic Principles -

    Gain a clear grasp of cardiac output, preload, afterload, and contractility to strengthen your foundation for NCLEX perfusion questions.

  2. Analyze Clinical Scenarios -

    Break down realistic patient vignettes to identify critical hemodynamic changes and recognize perfusion abnormalities.

  3. Apply Oxygen Delivery Concepts -

    Use knowledge of oxygen transport and tissue perfusion to determine effective nursing interventions in perfusion NCLEX practice.

  4. Interpret Diagnostic Data -

    Evaluate vital signs, lab values, and hemodynamic monitoring results to pinpoint perfusion deficits and guide care decisions.

  5. Differentiate Types of Shock -

    Distinguish between hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, and obstructive shock presentations to sharpen your cardiac perfusion NCLEX skills.

  6. Evaluate Nursing Interventions -

    Assess and prioritize appropriate pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies to optimize patient perfusion and improve outcomes.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Cardiac Output Formula (CO = HR × SV) -

    Cardiac output is a cornerstone concept in perfusion NCLEX practice and is calculated by multiplying heart rate (HR) by stroke volume (SV). For example, an HR of 70 bpm and SV of 70 mL yields a CO of 4.9 L/min (70 × 70 = 4900 mL/min). Mastering how preload, afterload, and contractility affect each component helps you answer NCLEX perfusion questions with confidence.

  2. Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) Calculation -

    Mean arterial pressure, a critical perfusion indicator, is calculated as (SBP + 2×DBP)/3 and should be ≥65 mmHg to ensure adequate organ perfusion according to American College of Cardiology guidelines. For instance, a blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg gives a MAP of (120 + 2×80)/3 = 93 mmHg. Recognizing this formula quickly can boost your score on a perfusion nursing exam.

  3. Frank-Starling Law and PAC Mnemonic -

    The Frank-Starling mechanism explains how increased preload stretches myocardial fibers, enhancing contractility until a physiologic limit. Use the PAC mnemonic - Preload, Afterload, Contractility - to recall how each factor modulates stroke volume and cardiac output. This memory trick is invaluable when tackling perfusion NCLEX quiz scenarios about volume status or pharmacologic interventions.

  4. Hemodynamic Profiles of Shock Types -

    Perfusion NCLEX practice often tests your ability to differentiate hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, and obstructive shock by hemodynamic parameters: PCWP, CI, and SVR. For example, cardiogenic shock presents with high PCWP (>18 mmHg), high SVR, and low CI (<2.2 L/min/m²). Understanding these profiles from sources like the Society of Critical Care Medicine helps you pinpoint appropriate interventions under pressure.

  5. Oxygen Delivery (DO₂) Equation -

    Oxygen delivery is calculated as DO₂ = CO × CaO₂, where CaO₂ = (Hb × 1.34 × SaO₂) + (0.003 × PaO₂), per American Heart Association guidelines. For example, with Hb 15 g/dL, SaO₂ 98%, and PaO₂ 95 mmHg, CaO₂ ≈ (15×1.34×0.98)+ (0.003×95) ≈ 19.7 mL O₂/dL. Mastering this formula ensures you can solve complex cardiac perfusion NCLEX questions with precision.

Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

Human Anatomy & Medicine Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker