NPTE-PTA Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Practice Questions
Cardiovascular & Pulmonary makes up 8 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest NPTE-PTA practice test. Here are 10 of the 32 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.
Updated by the Tigertest team. Based on the FSBPT NPTE-PTA Test Content Outline (2024). Original questions; 50 per test, weighted like the real exam. Not affiliated with FSBPT.
1. A patient in phase I cardiac rehab after an uncomplicated MI walks in the hallway. Which heart rate response is generally acceptable?
- A.A rise of 40 bpm over rest
- B.A rise of up to 20 bpm over rest
- C.A rise to 85% of age-predicted max
- D.A fall of 10 bpm below rest
Answer: B. Inpatient cardiac rehab usually keeps the heart rate within about 20 bpm of resting (30 bpm after surgery). A fall in heart rate with more work is a sign to stop, not a goal.
2. A patient takes a beta blocker for hypertension. How should the PTA best monitor exercise intensity?
- A.Resting respiratory rate only
- B.Pulse oximetry alone
- C.Age-predicted target heart rate
- D.Rating of perceived exertion
Answer: D. Beta blockers blunt the heart rate response to exercise, so a target heart rate from a formula is unreliable. RPE (with blood pressure and symptoms) tracks effort instead.
3. A patient's systolic pressure falls 15 mmHg as treadmill speed is raised. What should the PTA do?
- A.Stop and report it
- B.Add arm work to the session
- C.Raise the speed to recheck
- D.Continue at the same speed
Answer: A. A drop in systolic pressure as workload rises suggests the heart cannot meet demand. Exercise should stop, vitals be monitored, and the PT notified.
4. On standing, a patient's blood pressure goes from 128/78 to 104/70 with dizziness. What is this?
- A.Autonomic dysreflexia
- B.Normal postural response
- C.Orthostatic hypotension
- D.Exercise-induced hypertension
Answer: C. A fall of at least 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic within a few minutes of standing, often with dizziness, is orthostatic hypotension. Return the patient to sitting or supine.
5. Six weeks after a median sternotomy for CABG, which activity is still commonly restricted?
- A.Ankle pumps while seated
- B.Diaphragmatic breathing
- C.Pushing up with both arms
- D.Walking on level ground
Answer: C. Sternal precautions limit pushing, pulling and lifting with the arms while the sternum heals. Exact limits and duration follow the surgeon's protocol.
6. Why does a patient with COPD use pursed-lip breathing during exertion?
- A.To keep airways open longer
- B.To increase CO2 retention
- C.To shorten each exhalation
- D.To raise the respiratory rate
Answer: A. Pursed lips create back pressure that splints small airways open, slows the breathing rate and helps empty trapped air. Exhalation becomes longer, not shorter.
7. While teaching diaphragmatic breathing, where should the PTA see the most movement during inhalation?
- A.The neck muscles tightening
- B.The upper chest rising
- C.The shoulders elevating
- D.The upper abdomen rising
Answer: D. In diaphragmatic breathing the diaphragm descends and the upper abdomen moves outward. Upper chest and shoulder movement shows accessory muscle use.
8. Which position drains the posterior basal segments of both lower lobes?
- A.Side-lying with the head raised
- B.Prone, foot of bed raised
- C.Sitting upright, leaning back
- D.Supine with the bed flat
Answer: B. The posterior basal segments drain prone with the head down (foot of the bed raised about 20 inches). Upright sitting drains the apical upper lobe segments.
9. A patient is scheduled for chest percussion over the right lower lobe. Which finding should make the PTA hold it?
- A.Mild shortness of breath
- B.A rib fracture there
- C.Thick mucus on auscultation
- D.A productive morning cough
Answer: B. Percussion is avoided over a fracture, a fresh incision or other unstable chest wall. Thick secretions are the reason for airway clearance, not a reason to stop.
10. What does a huff cough do that a strong closed-glottis cough does not?
- A.Clears only the upper airway
- B.Needs a mechanical device
- C.Raises intrathoracic pressure more
- D.Limits early airway collapse
Answer: D. Huffing is a forced exhalation with an open glottis. It moves mucus from smaller airways with less pressure, so unstable airways are less likely to collapse.
Practice all 32 cardiovascular & pulmonary questions, and the rest of the 200-question bank, in the free NPTE-PTA training sets. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
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