A patient has undergone diagnostic testing and received a diagnosis of sinus bradycardia attributable to sinus node dysfunction. When planning this patients care, what nursing diagnosis is most appropriate?
- A. Acute pain
- B. Risk for unilateral neglect
- C. Risk for activity intolerance
- D. Risk for fluid volume excess
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sinus bradycardia causes decreased cardiac output that is likely to cause activity intolerance. It does not typically cause pain, fluid imbalances, or neglect of a unilateral nature.
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Following cardiac resuscitation, a patient has been placed in a state of mild hypothermia before being transferred to the cardiac intensive care unit. The nurses assessment reveals that the patient is experiencing neuromuscular paralysis. How should the nurse best respond?
- A. Administer hypertonic IV solution.
- B. Administer a bolus of warmed normal saline.
- C. Reassess the patient in 15 minutes.
- D. Document this as an expected assessment finding.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse caring for a patient with hypothermia (passive or induced) needs to monitor for appropriate level of cooling, sedation, and neuromuscular paralysis to prevent seizures; myoclonus; and shivering. Neuromuscular paralysis is an expected finding and does not necessitate further interventions.
A nurse is providing health education to a patient scheduled for cryoablation therapy. The nurse should describe what aspect of this treatment?
- A. Peeling away the area of endocardium responsible for the dysrhythmia
- B. Using electrical shocks directly to the endocardium to eliminate the source of dysrhythmia
- C. Using high-frequency sound waves to eliminate the source of dysrhythmia
- D. Using a cooled probe to eliminate the source of dysrhythmia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cryoablation therapy involves using a cooled probe to create a small scar on the endocardium to eliminate the source of the dysrhythmias. Endocardium resection involves peeling away a specified area of the endocardium. Electrical ablation involves using shocks to eliminate the area causing the dysrhythmias. Radio frequency ablation uses high-frequency sound waves to destroy the area causing the dysrhythmias.
An ECG has been ordered for a newly admitted patient. What should the nurse do prior to electrode placement?
- A. Clean the skin with providone-iodine solution.
- B. Ensure that the area for electrode placement is dry.
- C. Apply tincture of benzoin to the electrode sites and wait for it to become tacky.
- D. Gently abrade the skin by rubbing the electrode sites with dry gauze or cloth.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: An ECG is obtained by slightly abrading the skin with a clean dry gauze pad and placing electrodes on the body at specific areas. The abrading of skin will enhance signal transmission. Disinfecting the skin is unnecessary and conduction gel is used.
A patient is undergoing preoperative teaching before his cardiac surgery and the nurse is aware that a temporary pacemaker will be placed later that day. What is the nurses responsibility in the care of the patients pacemaker?
- A. Monitoring for pacemaker malfunction or battery failure
- B. Determining when it is appropriate to remove the pacemaker
- C. Making necessary changes to the pacemaker settings
- D. Selecting alternatives to future pacemaker use
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Monitoring for pacemaker malfunctioning and battery failure is a nursing responsibility. The other listed actions are physician responsibilities.
New nurses on the telemetry unit have been paired with preceptors. One new nurse asks her preceptor to explain depolarization. What would be the best answer by the preceptor?
- A. Depolarization is the mechanical contraction of the heart muscles.
- B. Depolarization is the electrical stimulation of the heart muscles.
- C. Depolarization is the electrical relaxation of the heart muscles.
- D. Depolarization is the mechanical relaxation of the heart muscles.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The electrical stimulation of the heart is called depolarization, and the mechanical contraction is called systole. Electrical relaxation is called repolarization, and mechanical relaxation is called diastole.
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