Nokea
A patient with mitral valve stenosis is receiving health education at an outpatient clinic. To minimize the patients symptoms, the nurse should teach the patient to do which of the following?
- A. Eat a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.
- B. Avoid activities that cause an increased heart rate.
- C. Avoid large crowds and public events.
- D. Perform deep breathing and coughing exercises.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients with mitral stenosis are advised to avoid strenuous activities, competitive sports, and pregnancy, all of which increase heart rate. Infection prevention is important, but avoiding crowds is not usually necessary. Deep breathing and coughing are not likely to prevent exacerbations of symptoms and increased protein intake is not necessary.
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A patient with a history rheumatic heart disease knows that she is at risk for bacterial endocarditis when undergoing invasive procedures. Prior to a scheduled cystoscopy, the nurse should ensure that the patient knows the importance of taking which of the following drugs?
- A. Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
- B. Metoprolol (Lopressor)
- C. Azathioprine (Imuran)
- D. Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Although rare, bacterial endocarditis may be life-threatening. A key strategy is primary prevention in high-risk patients (i.e., those with rheumatic heart disease, mitral valve prolapse, or prosthetic heart valves). Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for high-risk patients immediately before and sometimes after certain procedures. Amoxicillin is the drug of choice. None of the other listed drugs is an antibiotic.
A patient is admitted to the critical care unit (CCU) with a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. When reviewing the patients most recent laboratory results, the nurse should prioritize assessment of which of the following?
- A. Sodium
- B. AST, ALT, and bilirubin
- C. White blood cell differential
- D. BUN
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Sodium is the major electrolyte involved with cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy often leads to heart failure which develops, in part, from fluid overload. Fluid overload is often associated with elevated sodium levels. Consequently, sodium levels are followed more closely than other important laboratory values, including BUN, leukocytes, and liver function tests.
The nurse is teaching a patient diagnosed with aortic stenosis appropriate strategies for attempting to relieve the symptom of angina without drugs. What should the nurse teach the patient?
- A. To eat a small meal before taking nitroglycerin
- B. To drink a glass of milk before taking nitroglycerin
- C. To engage in 15 minutes of light exercise before taking nitroglycerin
- D. To rest and relax before taking nitroglycerin
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The venous dilation that results from nitroglycerin decreases blood return to the heart, thus decreasing cardiac output and increasing the risk of syncope and decreased coronary artery blood flow. The nurse teaches the patient about the importance of attempting to relieve the symptoms of angina with rest and relaxation before taking nitroglycerin and to anticipate the potential adverse effects. Exercising, eating, and drinking are not recommended prior to using nitroglycerin.
A cardiac surgery patients new onset of signs and symptoms is suggestive of cardiac tamponade. As a member of the interdisciplinary team, what is the nurses most appropriate action?
- A. Prepare to assist with pericardiocentesis.
- B. Reposition the patient into a prone position.
- C. Administer a dose of metoprolol.
- D. Administer a bolus of normal saline.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Cardiac tamponade requires immediate pericardiocentesis. Beta-blockers and fluid boluses will not relieve the pressure on the heart and prone positioning would likely exacerbate symptoms.
A patient with mitral stenosis exhibits new symptoms of a dysrhythmia. Based on the pathophysiology of this disease process, the nurse would expect the patient to exhibit what heart rhythm?
- A. Ventricular fibrillation (VF)
- B. Ventricular tachycardia (VT)
- C. Atrial fibrillation
- D. Sinus bradycardia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In patients with mitral valve stenosis, the pulse is weak and often irregular because of atrial fibrillation. Bradycardia, VF, and VT are not characteristic of this valvular disorder.