Chapter 42, exam questions

A patient who has stable angina pectoris is given nitroglycerin to use as needed. In addition to pharmacotherapy, the nurse will give the patient which instruction? a. Avoid extremes in weather. b. Begin a rigorous exercise program. c. Drink glass of red wine daily. d. Seek medical care at first sign of pain.

ANS: A Avoid extremes in weather

The nurse administers a dose of digoxin (Lanoxin) to a patient who has heart failure and returns to the room later to reassess the patient. Which finding indicates that the medication is effective? a. Decreased dyspnea b. Decreased urine output c. Increased blood pressure d. Increased heart rate

ANS: A Decreased dyspnea

A patient who takes digoxin to treat heart failure will begin taking a vasodilator. The patient asks the nurse why this new drug has been ordered. The nurse will explain that the vasodilator is used to a. decrease ventricular stretching. b. improve renal perfusion. c. increase cardiac output. d. promote peripheral fluid loss.

ANS: A decrease ventricular stretching

A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increasing dyspnea and is being evaluated for heart failure (HF). Which test will be ordered to help differentiate between dyspnea due to lung dysfunction and dyspnea due to HF? a. Atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH) level b. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level c. Cardiac enzymes d. Electrocardiogram (ECG)

ANS: B Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level

The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient who has heart failure. The patient reports nausea, vomiting, and a headache. The nurse notes a respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute, a heart rate of 58 beats per minute, and a blood pressure of 120/78 mm Hg. What will the nurse do next? a. Administer the next dose as ordered since these are mild side effects. b. Hold the dose and notify the provider of possible digoxin toxicity. c. Reassure the patient that these are common, self-limiting side effects. d. Request an order for an antiemetic and an analgesic medication.

ANS: B Hold the dose and notify the provider of possible digoxin toxicity.

The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient who has a serum digoxin level of 2.5 ng/mL. The patient takes 0.25 mg of digoxin per day. What action will the nurse take? a. Administer the next dose as ordered. b. Notify the provider of digoxin toxicity. c. Request an order to decrease the digoxin dose. d. Suggest that the patient may need an increased digoxin dose.

ANS: B Notify the provider of digoxin toxicity.

A patient asks the nurse why nitroglycerin is given sublingually. The nurse will explain that nitroglycerin is administered by this route for which reason? a. To avoid hypotension b. To increase absorption c. To minimize gastrointestinal upset d. To prevent hepatotoxicity

ANS: B To increase absorption

MULTIPLE RESPONSE 1. A patient has congestive heart failure and has been taking digoxin (Lanoxin) for 9 years. The patient is admitted with signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity. Which signs and symptoms are associated with digoxin toxicity? (Select all that apply.) a. Dysuria b. Vomiting c. Tachycardia d. Yellow haloes in the visual field e. Diarrhea f. Insomnia

ANS: B, D, E

. The nurse is teaching a patient about the use of a transdermal nitroglycerin patch. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching? a. "I will apply the patch as needed when I experience anginal pain." b. "I will remove the old patch and replace it with a new one at bedtime each day." c. "I should rotate sites when changing the patch to prevent skin irritation." d. "When I am symptom-free, I may stop using the patch on a regular basis."

ANS: C "I should rotate sites when changing the patch to prevent skin irritation."

The nurse is caring for a patient who is taking digoxin to treat heart failure. The patient's electrocardiogram shows a ventricular dysrhythmia. The nurse will notify the provider and will anticipate an order for which medication? a. Digoxin immune Fab (Digibind) b. Furosemide (Lasix) c. Phenytoin (Dilantin) d. Potassium

ANS: C Phenytoin (Dilantin)

The nurse provides teaching for a patient who has a ventricular dysrhythmia who is prescribed acebutolol (Spectral) 200 mg twice daily. Which statement by the patient indicates understanding of the teaching? a. "Diuretics may decrease the effectiveness of this drug." b. "Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting indicate a severe reaction." c. "I should eat fruits and vegetables to increase potassium intake." d. "I should not stop taking this drug abruptly to avoid palpitations."

ANS: D "I should not stop taking this drug abruptly to avoid palpitations."

A patient is diagnosed with heart failure, and the prescriber has ordered digoxin. The patient asks what lifestyle changes will help in the management of this condition. The nurse will recommend which changes? a. Aerobic exercise and weight lifting 2 or 3 times weekly b. Changing from cigarette smoking to pipe smoking c. Consuming 2 teaspoons or less of salt every day d. Having no more than one alcoholic beverage per day

ANS: D Having no more than one alcoholic beverage per day

The nurse performs a medication history and learns that the patient takes a thiazide diuretic and digoxin (Lanoxin). The nurse will question the patient to ensure that the patient is also taking which medication? a. Cortisone b. Lidocaine c. Nitroglycerin d. Potassium

ANS: D Potassium

A patient is ordered to receive a nitrate to relieve stable angina. What side effect(s) will the nurse anticipate in a patient receiving this medication? a. Nausea and vomiting b. Increased blood pressure c. Pruritus and skin rash d. Pounding headache

ANS: D Pounding headache

A patient who uses transdermal nitroglycerin reports having headaches. The nurse will counsel the patient to perform which action? a. Call 911 when this occurs. b. Notify the provider. c. Reapply the patch three times daily. d. Take acetaminophen as needed.

ANS: D Take acetaminophen as needed.

The nurse is teaching a patient about sublingual nitroglycerin administration. What information will the nurse include when teaching this patient? a. Call 911 if pain does not improve after three doses. b. If pain persists after one dose, administer a second dose. c. Swallow the tablet with small sips of water. d. Take the first tablet while sitting or lying down.

ANS: D Take the first tablet while sitting or lying down.

A patient who has heart failure receives digoxin (Lanoxin) and an angiotension-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. The patient will begin taking spironolactone (Aldactone). The patient asks why the new drug is necessary. The nurse will tell the patient that spironolactone will be given for which reason? a. To enhance potassium excretion b. To increase cardiac contractility c. To minimize fluid losses d. To provide cardioprotective effects

ANS: D To provide cardioprotective effects

A patient who has been taking nitroglycerin for angina has developed variant angina, and the provider has added verapamil (Calan) to the patient's regimen. The nurse will explain that verapamil is given for which purpose? a. To facilitate oxygen use by the heart b. To improve renal perfusion c. To increase cardiac contractility d. To relax coronary arteries

ANS: D To relax coronary arteries

A patient who has atrial fibrillation is taking digoxin. The nurse expects which medication to be given concurrently to treat this condition? a. Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL) b. Inamrinone (Inocor) c. Milrinone (Primacore) d. Warfarin (Coumadin)

ANS: D Warfarin (Coumadin)

A patient who has Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is given intravenous adenosine (Adenocard). The nurse will explain that the medication is effective because it a. controls atrial flutter. b. deepens myocardial excitability. c. prevents multifocal ventricular contractions. d. prolongs repolarization.

ANS: D prolongs repolarization.

A patient who has begun taking nifedipine (Procardia) to treat variant angina has had a recurrent blood pressure of 90/60 mm Hg or less. The nurse will anticipate that the provider will a. add digoxin to the drug regimen. b. change to a beta blocker. c. order serum liver enzymes. d. switch to diltiazem (Cardizem).

ANS: D switch to diltiazem (Cardizem)