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A patient is brought into the ED by family members who tell the nurse the patient grabbed his chest and complained of substernal chest pain. The care team recognizes the need to monitor the patients cardiac function closely while interventions are performed. What form of monitoring should the nurse anticipate?
- A. Left-sided heart catheterization
- B. Cardiac telemetry
- C. Transesophageal echocardiography
- D. Hardwire continuous ECG monitoring
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Two types of continuous ECG monitoring techniques are used in health care settings: hardwire cardiac monitoring, found in EDs, critical care units, and progressive care units; and telemetry, found in general nursing care units or outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs. Cardiac catheterization and transesophageal echocardiography would not be used in emergent situations to monitor cardiac function.
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The nurse is calculating a cardiac patients pulse pressure. If the patients blood pressure is 122/76 mm Hg, what is the patients pulse pressure?
- A. 46 mm Hg
- B. 99 mm Hg
- C. 198 mm Hg
- D. 76 mm Hg
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure. In this case, this value is 46 mm Hg (122 - 76 = 46).
The physician has ordered a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) drawn on a patient. The results of this test will allow the nurse to evaluate the role of what process that is implicated in the development of atherosclerosis?
- A. Immunosuppression
- B. Inflammation
- C. Infection
- D. Hemostasis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: High-sensitivity CRP is a protein produced by the liver in response to systemic inflammation. Inflammation is thought to play a role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.
A critically ill patient is admitted to the ICU. The physician decides to use intra-arterial pressure monitoring. After this intervention is performed, what assessment should the nurse prioritize in the plan of care?
- A. Fluctuations in core body temperature
- B. Signs and symptoms of esophageal varices
- C. Signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome
- D. Perfusion distal to the insertion site
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The radial artery is the usual site selected. However, placement of a catheter into the radial artery can further impede perfusion to an area that has poor circulation. As a result, the tissue distal to the cannulated artery can become ischemic or necrotic. Vigilant assessment is thus necessary. Alterations in temperature and the development of esophageal varices or compartment syndrome are not high risks.
The physical therapist notifies the nurse that a patient with coronary artery disease (CAD) experiences a much greater-than-average increase in heart rate during physical therapy. The nurse recognizes that an increase in heart rate in a patient with CAD may result in what?
- A. Development of an atrial-septal defect
- B. Myocardial ischemia
- C. Formation of a pulmonary embolism
- D. Release of potassium ions from cardiac cells
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Unlike other arteries, the coronary arteries are perfused during diastole. An increase in heart rate shortens diastole and can decrease myocardial perfusion. Patients, particularly those with CAD, can develop myocardial ischemia. An increase in heart rate will not usually result in a pulmonary embolism or create electrolyte imbalances. Atrial-septal defects are congenital.
A critical care nurse is caring for a patient with a pulmonary artery catheter in place. What does this catheter measure that is particularly important in critically ill patients?
- A. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure
- B. Right ventricular afterload
- C. Pulmonary artery pressure
- D. Left ventricular preload
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Monitoring of the pulmonary artery diastolic and pulmonary artery wedge pressures is particularly important in critically ill patients because it is used to evaluate left ventricular filling pressures (i.e., left ventricular preload). This device does not directly measure the other listed aspects of cardiac function.