Adult exam 1
The nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled to have a vein ligation in the morning. How would you describe a vein ligation to the client?
Veins are tied off and left in the leg.
The nurse is admitting a client with an elevated creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme (CK-MB). What is the cause for the elevated isoenzyme?
myocardial necrosis
When the client has increased difficulty breathing when lying flat, the nurse records that the client is demonstrating
orthopnea.
The nurse recognizes that the treatment for a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) differs from that for a STEMI, in that a STEMI is more frequently treated with
percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
The client with cardiac failure is taught to report which symptom to the health care provider or clinic immediately?
persistent cough
The nurse is reviewing the lab work of a client diagnosed with infective endocarditis. Which diagnostic study confirms the diagnosis?
positive blood culture
An operating room nurse is caring for a client who is having a pacemaker implanted. The health care provider has requested a demand mode pacemaker for this client. What is this type of pacemaker?
self activated
A client with a myocardial infarction develops acute mitral valve regurgitation. The nurse knows to assess for which manifestation that would indicate that the client is developing pulmonary congestion?
shortness of breath
Which symptom occurs in the client diagnosed with mitral regurgitation when pulmonary congestion occurs?
shortness of breath
A patient has been scheduled for cardioversion in the treatment of a tachyarrhythmia but is unclear about the particulars of the procedure after signing the necessary informed consent. How can the nurse best explain this procedure to the patient?
"Cardioversion will essentially 'reset' the cells in your heart that control the electrical activity."
The nurse obtains a health history from a client with a prosthetic heart valve and new symptoms of infective endocarditis. Which question by the nurse is most appropriate to ask?
"Have you been to the dentist recently?"
A client with a forceful, pounding heartbeat is diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. Which client statement indicates to the nurse a need for additional teaching?
"I can still drink coffee and tea."
The nurse is instructing on home care after placement of an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Which statement, made by the client, needs clarification by the nurse?
"I need to stay away from microwaves."
A nurse has provided discharge instructions to a client who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Which statement, made by the client, indicates the need for further teaching?
"I need to take a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class now that I have an ICD."
A nurse is caring for a client with heart failure. The nurse knows that the client has left-sided heart failure when the client makes which statement?
"I sleep on three pillows each night."
The nurse is administering a stool softener to a client who experienced a myocardial infarction. The client says, "I had a heart attack; I don't have a problem with constipation." What explanation will the nurse use to answer the client's question?
"If you strain to have a bowel movement, you can cause a drop in your heart rate that can be dangerous."
A nurse is preparing a client for a scheduled adenosine stress test. Which statement made by the client indicates a need for further education?
"My family is bringing me a cup of coffee to drink before the test."
When providing discharge instructions for a client who has been prescribed sublingual nitroglycerin for angina, the nurse should plan to include which instructions?
"See if rest relieves the chest pain before using the nitroglycerin."
A nurse is providing education about maintaining tissue integrity to a client with peripheral arterial disease. Which of the following statements by the client indicates a need for clarification?
"Shoes made of synthetic material are best for my feet."
The nurse, along with a nursing student, is caring for a client who is admitted with a fractured pacemaker lead related to Twiddler syndrome. The student asks for information about Twiddler syndrome. The appropriate response by the nurse is which of the following?
"The client twiddles with or manipulates the generator or wires, causing the lead to fracture."
A nurse is caring for a client newly diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. The health care provider indicates the client has probably had this condition for years. What factor is important for the nurse to consider when teaching the client about valvular disease?
"The client with mitral valve prolapse probably had no health symptoms."
A nurse is teaching a client about valve replacement surgery. Which statement by the client indicates an understanding of the benefit of an autograft replacement valve?
"The valve is made from my own heart valve, and I will not need to take any blood-thinning drugs when I am discharged."
The nurse is caring for a 32-year-old client admitted with a medical diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, related to "holiday heart" syndrome. A nursing student working with the nurse asks for information about "holiday heart" syndrome. Which is the best response by the nurse?
"This is the association of heart dysrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation, with binge drinking."
The nurse is caring for a client scheduled for a transesophageal echocardiogram with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. The client's spouse asks the nurse to explain the purpose of the test. What is the nurse's best response?
"This test will show any blood clots in the heart, and help us determine if it is safe to do a cardioversion."
A patient is being treated for hypertensive emergency. When treating this patient, the priority goal is to lower the mean blood pressure (BP) by up to which percentage in the first hour?
25%
A 56-year-old woman with severe varicose veins has opted for venous ablation, and the nurse is providing patient education before the scheduled procedure. What instructions should the nurse provide to this patient?
"We'll help you get walking as soon as you sedation has worn off, and you'll continue to gradually increase your activity level."
The nurse is caring for a client experiencing an acute MI (STEMI). The nurse anticipates the physician will prescribe alteplase. Before administering this medication, which question is most important for the nurse to ask the client?
"What time did your chest pain start today?"
A client with a mechanical valve replacement asks the nurse, "Why do I have to take antibiotics before getting my teeth cleaned?" What is the nurse's best response?
"You are at risk of developing an infection in your heart."
A client has just arrived in the ER with a possible myocardial infarction (MI). The electrocardiogram (ECG) should be obtained within which time frame of arrival to the ER?
10 minutes
The nurse would expect which atrial rate to be an idioventricular rhythm?
20-40
The nurse is explaining the DASH diet to a client diagnosed with hypertension. The client inquires about how many servings of fruit per day can be consumed on the diet. What is the nurse's best response?
4 or 5 servings per day
Following a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, a client is monitored in the postprocedure unit. The client's heparin infusion was stopped 2 hours earlier. There is no evidence of bleeding or hematoma at the insertion site, and the pressure device is removed. With regards to partial thromboplastin time (PTT), when should the nurse plan to remove the femoral sheath?
50 seconds or less.
A nurse is discussing with a nursing student how to accurately measure blood pressure. What statement by the student indicates an understanding of the education?
A cuff that is too small will give a false high blood pressure.
A client with newly diagnosed hypertension asks what to do to decrease the risk for related cardiovascular problems. Which risk factor is not modifiable by the client?
Age
The nurse is performing a respiratory assessment for a patient in left-sided heart failure. What does the nurse understand is the best determinant of the patient's ventilation and oxygenation status?
Arterial blood gases
What is the drug of choice for a stable client with ventricular tachycardia?
Amiodarone Amiodarone administered IV is the antidysrhythmic medication of choice for a stable patient with ventricular tachycardia. Atropine is used for bradycardia. Procainamide is used to treat and prevent atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias. Lidocaine is used for treating ventricular dysrhythmias.
The nurse explains to a patient that the primary cause of a varicose vein is:
An incompetent venous valve.
Which method to induce hemostasis after sheath removal after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is most effective?
Application of a vascular closure device such as Angio-Seal or VasoSeal
A nurse is caring for a client receiving warfarin therapy following a mechanical valve replacement. The client had a prothrombin time and International Normalized Ratio (INR) drawn before breakfast. The laboratory report shows the client's INR reading was 4. What is the nurse's first priority ?
Assess the client for bleeding and notify the health care provider of the results.
A patient has been slated for cardiac conduction surgery. What would be the criteria for a patient to have this surgery?
Atrial and ventricular tachycardias not responsive to other treatments
A nurse completes a shift assessment on a client admitted to the telemetry unit with a diagnosis of syncope. The client's heart rate is 55 bpm with a blood pressure of 90/66 mm Hg. The client is also experiencing dizziness and shortness of breath. Which medication will the nurse anticipate administering to the client based on these clinical findings?
Atropine
The nurse is educating a patient with chronic venous insufficiency about prevention of complications related to the disorder. What should the nurse include in the information given to the patient? (Select all that apply.)
Avoid constricting garments. Elevate the legs above the heart level for 30 minutes every 2 hours. Sleep with the foot of the bed elevated about 6 inches.
A client has undergone cardiac catheterization and will be discharged today. What information should the nurse emphasize during discharge teaching?
Avoid heavy lifting for the next 24 hours.
A client with heart failure is having a decrease in cardiac output. What indication does the nurse have that this is occurring?
Blood pressure 80/46 mm Hg
A client with aortic stenosis is reluctant to have valve replacement surgery. A nurse is present when the health care provider talks to the client about a treatment that is less invasive than surgery which will likely relieve some of the client's symptoms. What treatment option has been discussed?
Balloon percutaneous valvuloplasty
The nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) hears an alarm sound in the patient's room. Arriving in the room, the patient is unresponsive, without a pulse, and a flat line on the monitor. What is the first action by the nurse?
Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
A patient has been admitted with endocarditis. The patient asks the nurse how the health care provider knows what medicines to order to kill the bacteria. The nurse knows that to find the most appropriate antibiotic treatment, what test would be the most helpful?
Blood cultures
Which is a key diagnostic indicator of heart failure?
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
A patient has had cardiac surgery and is being monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU). What complication should the nurse monitor for that is associated with an alteration in preload?
Cardiac tamponade
A nurse is caring for a client with atrial fibrillation. What procedure would the nurse educate the patient about for termination of the dysrhythmia?
Elective cardioversion
A health care provider wants a cross-sectional image of the abdomen to evaluate the degree of stenosis in a patient's left common iliac artery. The nurse knows to prepare the patient for which of the following?
Computed tomography angiography (CTA)
A nurse assessing a client who underwent cardiac catheterization finds the client lying flat on the bed. The client's temperature is 99.8° F (37.7° C). The client's blood pressure is 104/68 mm Hg. The client's pulse rate is 76 beats/minute. The nurse detects weak pulses in the leg distal to the puncture site. Skin on the leg is cool to the touch. The puncture site is dry, but swollen. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
Contact the health care provider and report the findings.
A client is admitted for treatment of Prinzmetal angina. When developing this client's care plan, the nurse should keep in mind that this type of angina is a result of what trigger?
Coronary artery spasm.
The nurse is caring for a client who was admitted to the telemetry unit with a diagnosis of "rule/out acute MI." The client's chest pain began 3 hours earlier. Which laboratory test would be most helpful in confirming the diagnosis of a current MI?
Creatinine kinase-myoglobin (CK-MB) level
During assessment of a client admitted for cardiomyopathy, the nurse notes the following symptoms: dyspnea on exertion, fatigue, fluid retention, and nausea. The initial appropriate nursing diagnosis is which of the following?
Decreased cardiac output
The nurse is admitting a client with frothy pink sputum. What does the nurse suspect is the primary underlying disorder of pulmonary edema?
Decreased left ventricular pumping
A 71-year-old woman has a history of recurrent atrial arrhythmias and has consequently been scheduled for catheter ablation. The nurse who has been providing care for this patient should recognize that this procedure will address the patient's arrhythmia by:
Destroying the specific cardiac cells that are causing the patient's arrhythmia
Which of the following does the nurse recognize as the therapeutic goal of radiofrequency catheter ablation for a client with cardiac arrhythmias?
Destruction of errant tissue
A client has been living with an internal, fixed-rate pacemaker. When checking the client's readings on a cardiac monitor the nurse notices an absence of spikes. What should the nurse do?
Double-check the monitoring equipment.
The nurse is assessing a client with mitral regurgitation. The nurse expects to note what finding in this client?
Dyspnea, fatigue, and weakness
A client is admitted to the hospital with aortic stenosis. What assessment findings would indicate the development of left ventricular failure?
Dyspnea, orthopnea, pulmonary edema
The nurse is developing a teaching plan for the client to address modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), the nurse will include which factor(s)? Select all that apply.
Elevated blood pressure Alcohol use Obesity Physical inactivity
A client reporting heart palpitations is diagnosed with atrial fibrillation caused by mitral valve prolapse. To relieve the symptoms, the nurse should teach the client which dietary intervention?
Eliminate caffeine and alcohol
The nurse assesses a client returning from the post anesthesia unit with a new onset of sinus tachycardia with a heart rate of 138 beats per minute and a blood pressure of 128/80mmHg after elevating the head of the bed. What intervention does the nurse consider?
Evaluating laboratory values
A client with acute pericarditis is exhibiting distended jugular veins, tachycardia, tachypnea, and muffled heart sounds. The nurse recognizes these as symptoms of what occurrence?
Excess pericardial fluid compresses the heart and prevents adequate diastolic filling.
The nurse receives a client from the postanesthesia unit with a new onset of sinus tachycardia and a heart rate of 118 beats per minute. To which reasons does the nurse relate the increased heart rate? Select all that apply.
Fever Blood loss Anxiety
Which medication is categorized as a loop diuretic?
Furosemide
Following the morning assessment of an older adult patient, the nurse has documented, "Edema 3+ present to ankles and feet; dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses palpable bilaterally." The nurse should recognize that this patient may be exhibiting symptoms of:
Heart failure
During auscultation of a client, the nurse suspects a diagnosis of mitral valve regurgitation when hearing which of the following?
High-pitched blowing sound at the apex
The staff educator is talking to a group of new emergency department nurses about hypertensive crises. The nurse educator is aware that hypertensive urgency differs from hypertensive emergency in what way?
Hypertensive emergencies are associated with evidence of target organ damage.
A client admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) diagnosed with a STEMI is anxious and fearful. Which medication will the nurse administer to relieve the client's anxiety and decrease cardiac workload?
IV morphine
Which rhythm is also termed a ventricular escape rhythm?
Idioventricular rhythm
In preparation for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), the nurse must:
Inform the patient that blood pressure (BP) and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring will occur throughout the test
A patient has a persistent third-degree heart block and has had several periods of syncope. What priority treatment should the nurse anticipate for this patient?
Insertion of a pacemaker
A client has been recently placed on nitroglycerin. Which instruction by the nurse should be included in the client's teaching plan?
Instruct the client on side effects of flushing, throbbing headache, and tachycardia.
With a severe degree of peripheral arterial insufficiency, leg pain during rest can be reduced by:
Lowering the limb so that it is dependent.
A 72-year-old woman with a diagnosis of angina pectoris has presented to her nurse practitioner because her chest pain on exertion has become more frequent and longer lasting in recent days. The nurse should understand that this woman's chest pain is directly attributable to which of the following pathophysiological processes?
Ischemia of cardiac muscle cells
A nurse is educating about lifestyle modifications for a group of clients with newly diagnosed hypertension. While discussing dietary changes, which point would the nurse emphasize?
It takes 2 to 3 months for the taste buds to adapt to decreased salt intake.
The nurse identifies which symptom as a characteristic of right-sided heart failure?
Jugular vein distention (JVD)
A home health nurse is teaching a client with peripheral arterial disease ways to improve circulation to the lower extremities. The nurse encourages which of the following in teaching?
Keeping the legs in a neutral or dependent position
An electrocardiogram (ECG) taken during a routine checkup reveals that a client has had a silent myocardial infarction. Changes in which leads of a 12-lead ECG indicate damage to the left ventricular septal region?
Leads V3 and V4
During a shift assessment, the nurse is assessing the patient's point of maximum impulse (PMI). Where will the nurse best palpate and auscultate the PMI?
Left midclavicular line of the chest wall at the fifth intercostal space
After a physical examination, the provider diagnosed a patient with a grade 4 heart murmur. During assessment, the nurse expects to hear a murmur that is:
Loud and may be associated with a thrill sound similar to (a purring cat).
A nurse is assessing a client with aortic stenosis. What type of murmur will the nurse expect to hear?
Loud and rough during systole
A nurse should obtain serum levels of which electrolytes in a client with frequent episodes of ventricular tachycardia?
Magnesium and potassium
Which nursing intervention would reduce cardiac workload in a client with myocarditis?
Maintain the client on bed rest.
Which technique is used to surgically revascularize the myocardium?
Minimally invasive direct coronary bypass
Which action will the nurse include in the plan of care for a client admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) who is receiving milrinone?
Monitor blood pressure frequently
The nurse is caring for a client who has a suspected dysrhythmia. What most appropriate intervention should the nurse use to help detect dysrhythmias?
Monitor cardiac rhythm continuously
Which discharge instruction for self-care should the nurse provide to a client who has undergone a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedure?
Monitor the site for bleeding or hematoma.
A nurse reviews a client's medication history before administering a cholinergic blocking agent. Adverse effects of a cholinergic blocking agent may delay absorption of what medication?
Nitroglycerin
The nurse cares for a client with clubbing of the fingers and toes. The nurse should complete which action given these findings?
Obtain an oxygen saturation level.
The nurse is working in a long-term care facility with a group of older adults with cardiac disorders. Why would it be important for the nurse to closely monitor an older adult receiving digitalis preparations for cardiac disorders?
Older adults are at increased risk for toxicity.
A nursing instructor is reviewing the parts of an EKG strip with a group of students. One student asks about the names of all the EKG cardiac complex parts. Which of the following items are considered a part of the cardiac complex on an EKG strip? Choose all that apply.
P wave P-R interval T wave
A nurse reviews the ECG strip of a patient who has a history of premature atrial complexes (PACs). The strip shows a number of premature beats. The nurse expects to find:
PR interval >0.12 seconds.
Which term is used to describe a tachycardia characterized by abrupt onset, abrupt cessation, and a QRS of normal duration?
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
While receiving heparin to treat a pulmonary embolus, a client passes bright red urine. What should the nurse do first?
Prepare to administer protamine sulfate.
The nurse is preparing to administer furosemide to a client with severe heart failure. What lab study should be of most concern for this client while taking furosemide?
Potassium level of 3.1
A healthy adult client is seeing a health care provider for an annual physical examination. While the nurse is taking the client's vital signs, the client states, "Occasionally, my heart skips a beat." The nurse believes that the client is experiencing what condition?
Premature atrial complex
The nurse observes an electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing on a cardiac monitor with a pattern in lead II as well as a bizarre, abnormal shape to the QRS complex. The nurse has likely observed which ventricular dysrhythmia?
Premature ventricular contraction
When the nurse observes an electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing on a cardiac monitor with a pattern in lead II and observes a bizarre, abnormal shape to the QRS complex, the nurse has likely observed which of the following ventricular dysrhythmias?
Premature ventricular contraction (PVC)
When measuring the blood pressure in each arm of a healthy adult client, the nurse recognizes that which statement is true?
Pressures should not differ more than 5 mm Hg between arms.
Following cardiac surgery, the nurse assesses the client for any common complication of hypovolemia. What significant indication of a complication should the nurse monitor?
Pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) of 6 mm Hg
A client is brought to the emergency department with reports of a bad headache and an increase in blood pressure. The blood pressure reading obtained by the nurse is 260/180 mm Hg. What is the therapeutic goal for reduction of the mean blood pressure?
Reduce the blood pressure by 20% to 25% within the first hour of treatment.
A patient newly diagnosed with hypertension asks the nurse what happens when uncontrolled hypertension is prolonged. The nurse explains that a patient with prolonged uncontrolled hypertension is at risk for developing what health problem?
Renal failure
The nurse is assessing a client taking an anticoagulant. What nursing intervention is most appropriate for a client at risk for injury related to side effects of medication enoxaparin?
Report any incident of bloody urine, stools, or both.
Which term describes high blood pressure from an identified cause, such as renal disease?
Secondary hypertension
Which finding indicates that hypertension is progressing to target organ damage?
Retinal blood vessel damage
The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client with rheumatic endocarditis but no valvular dysfunction. On which nursing diagnosis should the nurse focus her teaching?
Risk for infection
The nurse is teaching a beginning EKG class to staff nurses. As the nurse begins to discuss the parts of the EKG complex, one of the students asks what the normal order of conduction through the heart is. What order does the nurse describe?
Sinoatrial (SA) node, atrioventricular (AV) node, Bundle of His, right and left bundle branches, purkinje fibers
Which is a potassium-sparing diuretic used in the treatment of heart failure?
Spironolactone
Which of the following are alterations noted in Virchow's triad? Select all that apply.
Stasis of blood Vessel wall injury Altered coagulation
The nurse is analyzing a rhythm strip. What does the nurse look at to identify ventricular repolarization?
T wave
The nurse is providing care for a hemodynamically unstable patient in a critical care setting. The nurse has read in the patient's chart that his most recent echocardiogram prior to admission indicated a low stroke volume, which the nurse recognizes as being a function of preload, afterload, and contractility. Which of the following statements best describes afterload?
The amount of resistance to the ejection of blood from the ventricle
A pregnant client who developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in her right leg is receiving heparin I.V. on the medical floor. Physical therapy is ordered to maintain her mobility and prevent additional DVT. A nursing assistant working on the medical unit helps the client with bathing, range-of-motion exercises, and personal care. Which collaborative multidisciplinary considerations should the care plan address?
The client is at risk for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia; therefore, the care plan should include reporting evidence of bleeding or easy bruising.
The nurse is preparing to administer adenosine for a patient diagnosed with atrial flutter. How should the nurse administer this medication?
The dose is administered rapid IV push.
A patient tells the nurse, "I was straining to have a bowel movement and felt like I was going to faint. I took my pulse and it was so slow." What does the nurse understand occurred with this patient?
The patient had a vagal response.
A nurse is caring for a young female adult client diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who has just had a mitral valve replacement. The client is being discharged with prescribed warfarin. The client mentions to the nurse that she relies on the rhythm method for birth control. What education will be a priority for the nurse to provide to this client?
The high risk for complications if she becomes pregnant while taking warfarin
Mr. Faulkner is a 69-year-old man who has enjoyed generally good health for his entire adult life. As a result, he has been surprised to receive a new diagnosis of hypertension after a series of visits to his primary care provider. The nurse who is working with Mr. Faulkner should recognize which of the following aspects of aging and hypertension?
The incidence and prevalence of hypertension increase with age.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a diagnosis of pericarditis. Where does the nurse understand the inflammation is located?
The thin fibrous sac encasing the heart
Which of the following is the most common complication of prosthetic valves?
Thromboembolism
A critically ill patient is admitted to the ICU. The health care provider decides to use intra-arterial pressure monitoring. What is the purpose of this?
To continually measure the patient's blood pressure (BP)
The nurse is teaching a patient diagnosed with aortic stenosis the importance of attempting to relieve the symptom of angina without drugs. What should the nurse teach the patient?
To rest and relax before taking nitroglycerin
Which electrocardiogram (ECG) characteristic is usually seen when a client's serum potassium level is low?
U wave
The nurse is caring for a client recovering from an acute myocardial infarction (MI). Which outcome indicates that care provided to maintain adequate tissue perfusion has been effective? Select all that apply.
Urine output 60 mL/hr Awake, alert, and oriented Blood pressure 118/60 mm Hg Normal sinus rhythm at 72 beats per minute
The staff educator is teaching a CPR class. What is an important aspect of defibrillating that the educator stresses to their class?
Use a conducting medium between the multifunction paddles and the skin.
The nurse understands that which of the following medications will be administered to the client for 6 to 12 weeks following prosthetic porcine valve surgery?
Warfarin
Which client with a venous stasis ulcer is a candidate for topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
a client with a chronic, nonhealing skin lesion
The term for a diagnostic test that involves injection of a contrast media into the venous system through a dorsal vein in the foot is
contrast phlebography.
The nurse is caring for a ventilated client after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. What are the criterions for extubation for the client? Select all that apply.
adequate cough and gag reflexes acceptable arterial blood gas values breathing without assistance of the ventilator
Which of the following medications is considered a thrombolytic?
alteplase
An client who has been diagnosed with arteriosclerosis is confused by what this means. The nurse explains that arteriosclerosis is:
an expected part of the aging process.
Which aneurysm occurs as a result of infection at arterial suture or graft sites?
anastomotic
Which would the nurse stress as a periodic lifelong necessity for a client managing infective endocarditis?
antibiotic therapy
The nurse is caring for a client with second-degree atrioventricular block, Type I with symptomatic bradycardia. What is the most likely medication the nurse will administer?
atropine sulfate
A nurse is caring for a client who had an aortic balloon valvuloplasty. The nurse should inspect the surgical insertion site closely for which complication(s)?
bleeding and infection
The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with pericarditis. What serious complication should this patient be monitored for?
cardiac tamponade
A nurse evaluates a client and suspects pericarditis. What indicator is considered the most characteristic symptom of pericarditis?
chest pain
A client who has been diagnosed with Prinzmetal's angina will present with which symptom?
chest pain that occurs at rest and usually in the middle of the night
The nurse is caring for a client with a blood pressure of 210/100 mm Hg in the emergency room. What is the most appropriate route of administration for antihypertensive agents?
continuous IV infusion
What is the term for the ability of the cardiac muscle to shorten in response to an electrical impulse?
contractility
A client is admitted for treatment of Prinzmetal angina. When developing this client's care plan, the nurse should keep in mind that this type of angina is a result of what trigger?
coronary artery spasm
During an initial assessment, the nurse measures the client's apical pulse and compares it to the peripheral pulse. The difference between the two is known as pulse:
deficit
During an initial assessment, the nurse measures the client's apical pulse and compares it to the peripheral pulse. The difference between the two is known as pulse:
deficit.
A nurse caring for a client recently admitted to the ICU observes the client coughing up large amounts of pink, frothy sputum. Lung auscultation reveals coarse crackles in the lower lobes bilaterally. Based on this assessment, the nurse recognizes this client is developing
decompensated heart failure with pulmonary edema.
A client is exhibiting digitalis toxicity. Which of the following medications would the nurse expect to be ordered for this client?
digoxin immune FAB
Frequently, what is the earliest symptom of left-sided heart failure?
dyspnea on exertion
A patient is admitted with suspected cardiomyopathy. What diagnostic test will the nurse need to teach the client about for identification of this disease?
echocardiogram
The diagnosis of aortic regurgitation (AR) is confirmed by which of the following?
echocardiography
A client with a history of mitral stenosis is admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with the abrupt onset of atrial fibrillation. The client's heart rate ranges from 120 to 140 bpm. The nurse recognizes that interventions are implemented to prevent the development of
embolic stroke.
You are monitoring the results of laboratory tests performed on a client admitted to the cardiac ICU with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Which test would you expect to show elevated levels?
enzymes
A nurse is caring for a client with end-stage cardiomyopathy and the client's spouse asks the nurse to clarify one of the last treatment options available that the health care provider mentioned. What is considered to be one of the last treatments for end-stage cardiomyopathy?
heart transplantation
A nurse reviewing a client's echocardiogram report reads the following statements: "The heart muscle is asymmetrically thickened and the overall size and mass are increased, especially along the septum. The ventricular walls are thickened, reducing the size of the ventricular cavities. Several areas of the myocardium show evidence of scarring." The nurse knows these manifestations are indicative of which type of cardiomyopathy?
hypertrophic
The nurse identifies which of the following as a potential cause of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs)?
hypokalemia
A client's elevated cholesterol levels are being managed with atorvastatin daily. What is a common side effect the nurse will teach the client that will require monitoring?
increased liver enzymes
It is appropriate for the nurse to recommend smoking cessation for clients with hypertension because nicotine
increases the heart rate, constricts arterioles, and reduces the heart's ability to eject blood.
A client with dilated cardiomyopathy is having frequent episodes of ventricular fibrillation. What medical treatment does the nurse anticipate the client will have to terminate the episode of ventricular fibrillation?
internal cardioverter defibrillator insertion
Two days after undergoing a total abdominal hysterectomy, a client complains of left calf pain. Venography reveals deep vein thrombosis (DVT). When assessing this client, the nurse is likely to detect:
left calf circumference 1" (2.5 cm) larger than the right.
Which term refers to enlarged, red, and tender lymph nodes?
lymphadenitis
A client with atrial fibrillation, who does not respond to conventional treatment measures and who is not a candidate for cardioversion, would have what procedure recommended?
maze procedure
The nurse is working on a monitored unit assessing the cardiac monitor rhythms. Which waveform pattern needs attention first?
ventricular fibrillation
A patient has had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator inserted. What should the nurse be sure to include in the education of this patient prior to discharge? (Select all that apply.)
• Avoid magnetic fields such as metal detection booths. • Call for emergency assistance if feeling dizzy. • Record events that trigger a shock sensation.