A coronary care unit (CCU) nurse is caring for a client admitted with acute myocardial infarction (MI). The nurse should monitor the client for which most common complication of MI?
- A. Heart failure
- B. Cardiogenic shock
- C. Cardiac dysrhythmias
- D. Recurrent myocardial infarction
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dysrhythmias are the most common complication and cause of death after an MI. Heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and recurrent MI are also complications but occur less frequently.
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A low dose of ondansetron is prescribed for a client receiving chemotherapy. The nurse anticipates that the primary health care provider will prescribe the medication by which route?
- A. Oral
- B. Intranasal
- C. Intravenous
- D. Subcutaneous
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ondansetron is an antiemetic used to control nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness. It is available for administration by the oral, intramuscular (IM), or intravenous (IV) routes. The IV route is the route used when relief of nausea is needed in the client receiving chemotherapy. The IM route may be used when the medication is used as an adjunct to anesthesia. Option 1 should not be used in clients who are nauseated. Options 2 and 4 are not routes of administration of this medication.
The nurse reviews the client's vital signs in the client's chart. Based on these data findings, what is the client's pulse pressure? Fill in the blank.
Correct Answer: 74 mm Hg
Rationale: The difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is the pulse pressure. Therefore, if the client has a blood pressure of 146/72 mm Hg, then the pulse pressure is 74.
The home health nurse is performing an initial assessment on a client who has been discharged after an insertion of a permanent pacemaker. Which client statement indicates that an understanding of self-care is evident?
- A. I will never be able to operate a microwave oven again.
- B. I should expect occasional feelings of dizziness and fatigue.
- C. I will take my pulse in the wrist or neck daily and record it in a log.
- D. Moving my arms and shoulders vigorously helps check pacemaker functioning.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clients with permanent pacemakers must be able to take their pulse in the wrist and/or neck accurately so as to note any variation in the pulse rate or rhythm that may need to be reported to the primary health care provider. Clients can safely operate most appliances and tools, such as microwave ovens, video recorders, AM-FM radios, electric blankets, lawn mowers, and leaf blowers, as long as the devices are grounded and in good repair. If the client experiences any feelings of dizziness, fatigue, or an irregular heartbeat, the primary health care provider is notified. The arms and shoulders should not be moved vigorously for 6 weeks after insertion.
The nurse admitting a client diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI) to the coronary care unit (CCU) should plan care by implementing which intervention?
- A. Beginning thrombolytic therapy
- B. Placing the client on continuous cardiac monitoring
- C. Infusing intravenous (IV) fluid at a rate of 150 mL per hour
- D. Administering oxygen at a rate of 6 L per minute by nasal cannula
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standard interventions upon admittance to the CCU as they relate to this question include continuous cardiac monitoring. Thrombolytic therapy may or may not be prescribed by the primary health care provider. Thrombolytic agents are most effective if administered within the first 6 hours of the coronary event. The nurse should ensure that there is an adequate IV line insertion of an intermittent lock. If an IV infusion is administered, it is maintained at a keep-vein-open rate to prevent fluid overload and heart failure. Oxygen should be administered at a rate of 2 to 4 L per minute unless otherwise prescribed.
A pregnant client tells the nurse that she felt wetness on her peripad and found some clear fluid. The nurse inspects the perineum and notes the presence of the umbilical cord. What is the immediate nursing action?
- A. Monitor the fetal heart rate.
- B. Notify the primary health care provider.
- C. Transfer the client to the delivery room.
- D. Place the client in the Trendelenburg position.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: On inspection of the perineum, if the umbilical cord is noted, the nurse immediately places the client in the Trendelenburg position while gently holding the presenting part upward to relieve the cord compression. This position is maintained and the primary health care provider is notified. The fetal heart rate also needs to be monitored to assess for fetal distress. The client is transferred to the delivery room when prescribed by the primary health care provider.
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