Free ANCC Cardiac-Vascular Nursing board certification examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the ANCC Cardiac-Vascular Nursing board certification examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1While reviewing the path of blood through the left heart, a cardiac nurse identifies the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. Which valve is it?

   1. A. The tricuspid valve
   2. B. The mitral valve
   3. C. The pulmonary valve
   4. D. The aortic valve

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The NHLBI states, "The mitral valve separates the left atrium and left ventricle." The other named valves separate different chambers or outflow vessels.

   Reference: How the Heart Works: How Blood Flows through the Heart — Heart valves

2. 2A patient with acute coronary syndrome has no high bleeding risk. What is the default minimum duration of aspirin plus an oral P2Y12 inhibitor in the 2025 ACC/AHA guidance?

   1. A. At least 3 months
   2. B. At least 6 months
   3. C. At least 9 months
   4. D. At least 12 months

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The AHA guideline summary states, "Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and an oral P2Y12 inhibitor is indicated for at least 12 months as the default strategy in patients with ACS who are not at high bleeding risk." The question asks for the minimum default duration.

   Reference: Top Things to Know: 2025 Guideline for Acute Coronary Syndromes — Top Things to Know, point 2

3. 3A patient taking warfarin plans to sharply change the amount of leafy greens eaten each week. What dietary pattern best limits variation in warfarin effect?

   1. A. Keep vitamin K intake consistent from week to week
   2. B. Increase vitamin K intake substantially every weekend
   3. C. Avoid all vitamin K foods only on clinic visit days
   4. D. Alternate very high and very low vitamin K weeks

   Answer: A

   Explanation: MedlinePlus states, "Eat consistent amounts of vitamin K-containing food on a week-to-week basis." The patient should maintain a stable pattern rather than make abrupt swings.

   Reference: Warfarin: MedlinePlus Drug Information — Special dietary instructions

4. 4During cardiovascular risk counseling, a smoker asks why tobacco exposure can reduce oxygen delivery to the heart. Which smoke constituent has the specific blood oxygen-carrying effect described by CDC?

   1. A. Carbon monoxide
   2. B. Nicotine
   3. C. Tobacco tar
   4. D. Particulate ash

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC states, "Carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen that your blood can carry." This explains the oxygen-delivery concern.

   Reference: CDC: Heart Disease Risk Factors — Behaviors that can increase risk, tobacco use

5. 5A nurse traces oxygen-rich blood immediately after it leaves the lungs. Which vessel carries it back to the heart?

   1. A. The pulmonary arteries
   2. B. The superior vena cava
   3. C. The pulmonary veins
   4. D. The aorta

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The NHLBI states, "The oxygen-rich blood returns to your heart through the pulmonary veins." This identifies the returning vessel after pulmonary oxygenation.

   Reference: How the Heart Works: How Blood Flows through the Heart — Adding oxygen to blood

6. 6For a patient with acute coronary syndrome undergoing PCI, which arterial access route is preferred to lower bleeding and vascular complications?

   1. A. Femoral arterial access
   2. B. Radial arterial access
   3. C. Brachial arterial access
   4. D. Ulnar arterial access

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The AHA guideline summary states, "a radial approach is preferred over femoral approach in patients with ACS undergoing PCI to reduce bleeding, vascular complications, and mortality". Radial access is the stated preferred approach.

   Reference: Top Things to Know: 2025 Guideline for Acute Coronary Syndromes — Top Things to Know, point 5

7. 7A patient taking simvastatin asks which fruit juice the nurse should flag because the label says it may raise simvastatin levels and myopathy risk. Which juice is it?

   1. A. Grapefruit juice
   2. B. Orange juice
   3. C. Cranberry juice
   4. D. Pomegranate juice

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The simvastatin label says, "Grapefruit juice can raise the plasma levels of simvastatin and may increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis." The patient should avoid this specifically identified interaction.

   Reference: DailyMed: Simvastatin Tablets Prescribing Information — Section 7.1, Grapefruit Juice

8. 8During cardiovascular risk counseling, a patient asks which lipoprotein CDC calls bad cholesterol because it can contribute to arterial plaque. Which should the nurse identify?

   1. A. Low-density lipoprotein
   2. B. High-density lipoprotein
   3. C. Very-low-density lipoprotein
   4. D. Intermediate-density lipoprotein

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC calls LDL "bad" cholesterol because it "can cause plaque buildup in your arteries." The other choices are real lipoprotein classes, but they are not the class identified in this CDC statement.

   Reference: CDC: Heart Disease Risk Factors — Conditions that can increase risk, unhealthy blood cholesterol levels

9. 9A patient asks which vessels directly supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself. Which vessels should the nurse identify?

   1. A. The pulmonary arteries
   2. B. The coronary arteries
   3. C. The pulmonary veins
   4. D. The venae cavae

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The NHLBI states, "Your coronary arteries supply blood to your heart." These vessels perfuse the myocardium itself.

   Reference: How the Heart Works: How Blood Flows through the Heart — Supplying oxygen to the heart’s muscle

10. 10Following PCI for acute coronary syndrome, a patient with substantial gastrointestinal bleeding risk remains on antiplatelet therapy. Which additional medicine does the guideline recommend?

    1. A. A proton pump inhibitor
    2. B. An H2-receptor antagonist
    3. C. A mucosal coating agent
    4. D. A short-acting antacid

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The AHA guideline summary states, "in patients at risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, a proton pump inhibitor is recommended". The patient's bleeding risk is the condition named in that recommendation.

    Reference: Top Things to Know: 2025 Guideline for Acute Coronary Syndromes — Top Things to Know, point 2