Cardiac-Vascular Nursing (CVRN) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Cardiac-Vascular Nursing Exam. Study with comprehensive multiple-choice questions and in-depth explanations. Enhance your knowledge and ensure success on your test!

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What condition is often assessed using a 12-lead ECG?

Coronary artery disease
Pulmonary hypertension
Heart failure
Myocarditis

The correct answer is: Coronary artery disease

The assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) frequently utilizes a 12-lead ECG due to its ability to visualize electrical activity across different regions of the heart. A 12-lead ECG can reveal arrhythmias, ischemia, and other abnormalities that indicate CAD. It provides critical information such as ST-segment elevation or depression, T-wave inversions, and Q waves, which are important for diagnosing ischemic events and heart attacks. While pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and myocarditis may also show changes on an ECG, they are not primarily diagnosed or assessed using a 12-lead ECG as CAD is. For instance, heart failure can lead to nonspecific changes on an ECG, whereas pulmonary hypertension is often diagnosed through echocardiography or pulmonary function tests. Myocarditis can show ST changes or arrhythmias, but again, these findings are less definitive for diagnosis than those typically associated with CAD, making the use of a 12-lead ECG more closely associated with assessing coronary artery disease.