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The nurse is teaching a patient whose dysrhythmia is being treated with medication therapy. Which fact should the nurse include in the teaching plan?
"Almost all drugs used to treat dysrhythmias can cause dysrhythmias.
What does the nurse instruct a patient, who is prescribed nitroglycerin patches do to prevent the development of tolerance to nitrates?
"Apply the nitroglycerin patch each day, and remove it for 10 hours at night."
Which statement is accurate for enoxaparin?
It reduces the activity of factor Xa more than the activity of thrombin.
A patient, who is receiving nitroglycerin (NTG) intravenously by way of an infusion pump has a blood pressure of 92/60 mm Hg. Which is the nurse's priority intervention to maintain the patient's blood pressure?
Maintain tissue perfusion by maintaining fluid balance.
A patient has been receiving intravenous heparin. The nurse notes that today's activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) result is elevated. What is the nurse's best action?
Monitor the patient and check the therapeutic range
Which are the main types of drugs used to prevent or relieve anginal pain? Select all that apply.
Nitrates Beta blockers Calcium channel blockers
The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of the drug oprelvekin in a patient undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Which finding is most indicative that this drug is having its intended effect?
Platelet count of 150 × 103/mm 3
A patient with a serum cholesterol level of 275 mg/dL is prescribed simvastatin. What instructions should the nurse provide to the patient? Select all that apply.
"Avoid taking the drug with grapefruit juice." "Notify your health care provider if your urine becomes discolored." "Notify your health care provider if muscle pain occurs after 3 days."
When teaching the nursing student about coronary heart disease, which statement will the nurse include in the session?
"Coronary heart disease occurs because of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques."
The nurse is caring for a patient with hypercholesterolemia who is taking 20 mg of simvastatin as prescribed. After a few days, the patient's urinalysis reports indicated the presence of myoglobin. What instruction would the nurse receive from the primary health care provider?
"Discontinue administering the medication."
Which statement reflects a patient's accurate understanding of dietary restrictions while taking a vitamin K antagonist?
"I should be consistent in my intake of green vegetables once a maintenance dose of my medication has been established
The nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about statin drugs and asks about the mechanism of action of lovastatin. Which response from the students indicates understanding?
"It inhibits hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase to reduce the biosynthesis of cholesterol in the liver.
A patient is started on warfarin therapy while also receiving intravenous heparin. The patient is concerned about the risk for bleeding. What will the nurse tell the patient?
"It usually takes about 3 days to achieve a therapeutic effect for warfarin, so the heparin is continued until the warfarin is therapeutic."
A patient receiving atorvastatin therapy to reduce high cholesterol levels calls the clinic and reports, "I am experiencing severe pain in both my legs." What is the nurse's best response?
"Stop taking the drug and visit the clinic immediately."
A patient who is receiving heparin therapy has bruises covering the abdomen as well as red-colored urine. What does the nurse need to assess?
Platelet level
A patient taking sublingual nitroglycerin complains of flushing and headaches. What instruction does the nurse give the patient?
"These effects will subside over time."
A patient received desmopressin preoperatively to maintain hemostasis during a surgical procedure. Which postoperative assessment finding indicates the patient has experienced an adverse effect of the drug?
+2 edema of the extremities
In which patient would a low-dose aspirin be contraindicated?
A patient with a hemorrhagic stroke
Which patient will be given nitroglycerin?
A patient with coronary heart disease who complains of chest pain
Which organ regulates the body's iron stores?
Intestines
Which patient assessment would assist the nurse in evaluating the therapeutic effects of a calcium channel blocker?
Absence of chest pain
A patient is receiving a continuous heparin infusion for venous thromboembolism treatment. Which laboratory results should the nurse monitor? Select all that apply.
Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) Platelets
The patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy. The international normalized ratio (INR) value for the patient today is 1.5. In response to this, the nurse could anticipate the healthcare provider placing which order?
Administer an additional dose of warfarin.
A patient is admitted to the emergency department complaining of chest pain, and the electrocardiogram (ECG) shows an evolving ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Which intervention should the nurse anticipate?
Administer nitroglycerin.
A nurse is preparing to administer enoxaparin sodium to a patient for prevention of deep vein thrombosis. Which is an essential nursing intervention?
Administer the medication into subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen
Which drugs are included in the treatment plan to minimize possible myocardial necrosis while awaiting definitive diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)? Select all that apply.
Aspirin Morphine Beta-blockers Nitroglycerine
Before the nurse administers verapamil, what is a priority nursing assessment?
Assess telemetry and heart rate.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving enteral feedings because of dysphagia. The health care provider prescribes isosorbide mononitrate 60 mg SR daily via the enteral tube. What is the most appropriate action by the nurse?
Call the health care provider about an alternative form of nitrate for administration
The nurse is administering a class IV antidysrhythmic drug to a patient. How should the nurse best evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of the medication? Select all that apply.
Count ventricular rate. Assess for chest pain. Check blood pressure Monitor cardiac function
Which assessment finding in a patient taking a hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor will the nurse act on immediately?
Elevated liver function tests
A patient who was admitted with deep vein thrombophlebitis is complaining of difficulty breathing and chest pain. What is the most likely cause of these symptoms?
Embolus to the lungs
The nurse should review which baseline data before starting epoetin alfa therapy in a patient with chronic renal failure (CRF)? Select all that apply.
Ferritin level Blood pressure trends Hemoglobin and hematocrit
A patient is admitted to the emergency department with a diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Which is the priority nursing action?
Having the patient chew a 325-mg aspirin
Which assessment finding in a patient with cardiac risk factors should be reported immediately if the patient is taking a nonselective beta blocker?
History of asthma
Which are common causes of dysrhythmias? Select all that apply.
Hypoxia Cardiac surgery Myocardial infarction Electrolyte imbalance
When will the nurse administer hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins)?
In the evening
The nurse is monitoring a patient receiving ferrous sulfate for treatment of iron deficiency anemia. Which finding indicates that the therapy is effective?
Increased hemoglobin
Which adverse effect is the greatest concern with thrombolytic therapy?
Intracranial hemorrhage
A patient diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism is receiving a continuous heparin infusion at 1000 units/hr. The nurse will immediately notify the healthcare provider of which findings? Select all that apply.
Nosebleeds aPTT of 40 seconds aPTT of 100 seconds
Which statement by the nursing student about the use of organic nitrates indicates understanding?
Organic nitrates dilate all blood vessels.
A patient has overdosed on warfarin. Which substance will the nurse administer to reverse the effect of warfarin?
Phytonadione
The nurse is monitoring a patient receiving alteplase for treatment of a massive pulmonary embolism. Which finding indicates that the therapy is effective?
Pulse oxygen saturation increased
Which effect will beta blockers have on the conduction system in the heart? Select all that apply.
Reduced contractility in the atria and ventricles Slowed conduction in the atrioventricular (AV) node Reduction of automaticity in the sinoatrial (SA) node
Which is the most beneficial treatment for patients experiencing an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction?
Reperfusion therapy
Which finding indicates a positive outcome from treatment with filgrastim?
The neutrophil count increases
Which patient does the nurse anticipate will receive alteplase therapy?
The patient with severe chest pain for the past 2 hours
Which condition will the nurse assess in a patient who takes nitrates on a long-term basis?
Tolerance to the drug's effects
A patient who has been taking warfarin is admitted with coffee-ground emesis. What can the nurse anticipate being prescribed for this patient?
Vitamin K