Nokea
A client who is being treated for acute heart failure has the following vital signs: blood pressure (BP), 85/50 mm Hg; pulse, 96 beats per minute; respirations, 26 breaths per minute. The primary health care provider prescribes digoxin. To evaluate a therapeutic response to this medication, which changes in the client's vital signs should the nurse expect?
- A. BP 85/50 mm Hg, pulse 60 beats per minute, respirations 26 breaths per minute
- B. BP 98/60 mm Hg, pulse 80 beats per minute, respirations 24 breaths per minute
- C. BP 130/70 mm Hg, pulse 104 beats per minute, respirations 20 breaths per minute
- D. BP 110/40 mm Hg, pulse 110 beats per minute, respirations 20 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The main function of digoxin is inotropic. It produces increased myocardial contractility that is associated with an increased cardiac output. This causes a rise in the BP in a client with heart failure. Digoxin also has a negative chronotropic effect (decreases heart rate) and will therefore cause a slowing of the heart rate. As cardiac output improves, there should be an improvement in respirations as well. The remaining choices do not reflect the physiological changes attributed to this medication.
You may also like to solve these questions
A primary health care provider prescribes 1000 mL of normal saline to infuse at 100 mL/hour. The drop factor is 10 drops/mL. The nurse should set the flow rate at how many drops per minute?
Correct Answer: 17
Rationale: It will take 10 hours for 1000 mL to infuse at 100 mL/hour (1000 mL ÷ 100 mL = 10 hour × 60 min = 600 min). Next, use the intravenous (IV) flow rate formula. Formula: Total volume × Drop factor ÷ Time in minutes. 1000 mL × 10 Drops/mL = 10,000 ÷ 600 min = 16.6, or 17 Drops/minute.
What should the nurse consider when determining whether a client diagnosed with a respiratory disease could tolerate and benefit from active progressive relaxation? Select all that apply.
- A. Social status
- B. Financial status
- C. Functional status
- D. Medical diagnosis
- E. Ability to expend energy
- F. Motivation of the individual
Correct Answer: C,D,E,F
Rationale: Active progressive relaxation training teaches the client how to effectively rest and reduce tension in the body. Some important considerations when choosing the type of relaxation technique are the client's physiological and psychological status. Because active progressive relaxation training requires a moderate expenditure of energy, the nurse needs to consider the client's functional status, medical diagnosis, and ability to expend energy. For example, a client with advanced respiratory disease may not have sufficient energy reserves to participate in active progressive relaxation techniques. The client needs to be motivated to participate in this form of alternative therapy to obtain beneficial results. The client's social or financial status has no relationship with her or his ability to tolerate and benefit from active progressive relaxation.
The nurse is monitoring an unconscious client who sustained a head injury. Which observed positioning supports the suspicion that the client sustained an upper brainstem injury?
- A. Abnormal involuntary flexion of the extremities
- B. Abnormal involuntary extension of the extremities
- C. Upper extremity extension with lower extremity flexion
- D. Upper extremity flexion with lower extremity extension
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Decerebrate posturing, which can occur with upper brainstem injury, is characterized by abnormal involuntary extension of the extremities. Options 1, 3, and 4 are incorrect descriptions of this type of posturing.
A client is diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The nurse performs an assessment on the client, expecting to note which findings? Select all that apply.
- A. Weight loss
- B. Bradycardia
- C. Hypotension
- D. Dry, scaly skin
- E. Heat intolerance
- F. Decreased body temperature
Correct Answer: B,C,D,F
Rationale: The manifestations of hypothyroidism are the result of decreased metabolism from low levels of thyroid hormones. Some of these manifestations are bradycardia; hypotension; cool, dry, scaly skin; decreased body temperature; dry, coarse, brittle hair; decreased hair growth; cold intolerance; slowing of intellectual functioning; lethargy; weight gain; and constipation.
After undergoing a thyroidectomy, a client is monitored for signs of damage to the parathyroid glands postoperatively. The nurse would determine which finding suggests damage to the parathyroid glands?
- A. Fever
- B. Neck pain
- C. Hoarseness
- D. Tingling around the mouth
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The parathyroid glands can be damaged or their blood supply impaired during thyroid surgery. Hypocalcemia and tetany result when parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels decrease. The nurse monitors for complaints of tingling around the mouth or of the toes or fingers and muscular twitching because these are signs of calcium deficiency. Additional later signs of hypocalcemia are positive Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs. Fever may be expected in the immediate postoperative period but is not an indication of damage to the parathyroid glands. However, if a fever persists the primary health care provider is notified. Neck pain and hoarseness are expected findings postoperatively.