RN Exam Practice
Physiological AdaptationQuestion 526 of 2368

A female client reports new upper back and jaw discomfort. Which statement about coronary artery disease best guides the nurse's assessment?

  1. Women always have severe, crushing chest pain as their only warning symptom.
  2. Women rarely develop coronary artery disease, so cardiac causes are unlikely.
  3. Pain in the jaw or upper back is never related to the heart or its blood supply.
  4. Women may have alternative symptoms such as neck, jaw, shoulder, or upper back pain.
Show answer

Correct answer: Women may have alternative symptoms such as neck, jaw, shoulder, or upper back pain.

Women may be asymptomatic or have neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back, or abdominal pain rather than chest pain.

Source: Nursing Pharmacology, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Cardiovascular & Renal Systems: Coronary Artery Disease. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Practice the topic "Physiological Adaptation"

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026