Cardiovascular System Practice Exam Related

Review Cardiovascular System Practice Exam related questions and content

The nurse is giving a client an IV bolus of heparin. What is the most important nursing action?

  • A. Monitor the client's heart rate.
  • B. Check the client's blood pressure.
  • C. Check for signs of bleeding.
  • D. Monitor the client's respiratory rate.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Monitor the client's heart rate. When administering an IV bolus of heparin, it is crucial to monitor the client's heart rate because heparin can cause serious side effects such as bleeding and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, which can lead to changes in heart rate. Checking blood pressure (B) is also important but not as critical as monitoring heart rate. Checking for signs of bleeding (C) is necessary but should be done after monitoring the heart rate. Monitoring the client's respiratory rate (D) is not directly related to heparin administration.