A patient is recovering in the hospital from cardiac surgery. The nurse has identified the diagnosis of risk for ineffective airway clearance related to pulmonary secretions. What intervention best addresses this risk?
- A. Administration of bronchodilators by nebulizer
- B. Administration of inhaled corticosteroids by metered dose inhaler (MDI)
- C. Patients consistent performance of deep breathing and coughing exercises
- D. Patients active participation in the cardiac rehabilitation program
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Clearance of pulmonary secretions is accomplished by frequent repositioning of the patient, suctioning, and chest physical therapy, as well as educating and encouraging the patient to breathe deeply and cough. Medications are not normally used to achieve this goal. Rehabilitation is important, but will not necessarily aid the mobilization of respiratory secretions.
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The public health nurse is participating in a health fair and interviews a patient with a history of hypertension, who is currently smoking one pack of cigarettes per day. She denies any of the most common manifestations of CAD. Based on these data, the nurse would expect the focuses of CAD treatment most likely to be which of the following?
- A. Drug therapy and smoking cessation
- B. Diet and drug therapy
- C. Diet therapy only
- D. Diet therapy and smoking cessation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Due to the absence of symptoms, dietary therapy would likely be selected as the first-line treatment for possible CAD. Drug therapy would be determined based on a number of considerations and diagnostics findings, but would not be directly indicated. Smoking cessation is always indicated, regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms.
The nurse is working with a patient who had an MI and is now active in rehabilitation. The nurse should teach this patient to cease activity if which of the following occurs?
- A. The patient experiences chest pain, palpitations, or dyspnea
- B. The patient experiences a noticeable increase in heart rate during activity
- C. The patients oxygen saturation level drops below 96%
- D. The patients respiratory rate exceeds 30 breaths/min
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Any activity or exercise that causes dyspnea and chest pain should be stopped in the patient with CAD. Heart rate must not exceed the target rate, but an increase above resting rate is expected and is therapeutic. In most patients, a respiratory rate that exceeds 30 breaths/min is not problematic. Similarly, oxygen saturation slightly below 96% does not necessitate cessation of activity.
The nurse has just admitted a 66-year-old patient for cardiac surgery. The patient tearfully admits to the nurse that she is afraid of dying while undergoing the surgery. What is the nurses best response?
- A. Explore the factors underlying the patients anxiety
- B. Teach the patient guided imagery techniques
- C. Obtain an order for a PRN benzodiazepine
- D. Describe the procedure in greater detail
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: An assessment of anxiety levels is required in the patient to assist the patient in identifying fears and developing coping mechanisms for those fears. The nurse must further assess and explore the patients anxiety before providing interventions such as education or medications.
An OR nurse is preparing to assist with a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The OR nurse knows that the vessel most commonly used as source for a CABG is what?
- A. Brachial artery
- B. Brachial vein
- C. Femoral artery
- D. Greater saphenous vein
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The greater saphenous vein is the most commonly used graft site for CABG. The right and left internal mammary arteries, radial arteries, and gastroepiploic artery are other graft sites used, though not as frequently. The femoral artery, brachial artery, and brachial vein are never harvested.
A patient with cardiovascular disease is being treated with amlodipine (Norvasc), a calcium channel blocking agent. The therapeutic effects of calcium channel blockers include which of the following?
- A. Reducing the hearts workload by decreasing heart rate and myocardial contraction
- B. Preventing platelet aggregation and subsequent thrombosis
- C. Reducing myocardial oxygen consumption by blocking adrenergic stimulation to the heart
- D. Increasing the efficiency of myocardial oxygen consumption, thus decreasing ischemia and relieving pain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Calcium channel blocking agents decrease sinoatrial node automaticity and atrioventricular node conduction, resulting in a slower heart rate and a decrease in the strength of the heart muscle contraction. These effects decrease the workload of the heart. Antiplatelet and anticoagulation medications are administered to prevent platelet aggregation and subsequent thrombosis, which impedes blood flow. Beta-blockers reduce myocardial consumption by blocking beta-adrenergic sympathetic stimulation to the heart. The result is reduced myocardial contractility (force of contraction) to balance the myocardium oxygen needs and supply. Nitrates reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, which decreases ischemia and relieves pain by dilating the veins and, in higher doses, the arteries.
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