ATI Medical Surgical Proctored Exam Related

Review ATI Medical Surgical Proctored Exam related questions and content

A nurse assesses a client who has a history of heart failure. Which question should the nurse ask to assess the extent of the client's heart failure?

  • A. Do you have trouble breathing or chest pain?
  • B. Are you able to walk upstairs without fatigue?
  • C. Do you awake with breathlessness during the night?
  • D. Do you have new-onset heaviness in your legs?
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because assessing the client's ability to walk upstairs without fatigue helps determine the extent of heart failure. This question assesses the client's functional capacity and exercise tolerance, which are key indicators of heart failure severity. If the client experiences fatigue while walking upstairs, it indicates decreased cardiac output and potential heart failure progression. Other choices are incorrect as they focus on symptoms (A), nocturnal dyspnea (C), and peripheral edema (D), which may be present in heart failure but do not directly assess the extent of heart failure like exercise tolerance does.