An emergency room nurse obtains the health history of a client. Which statement by the client should alert the nurse to the occurrence of heart failure?
- A. I get short of breath when I climb stairs.
- B. I see halos floating around my head.
- C. I have trouble remembering things.
- D. I have lost weight over the past month.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Shortness of breath, especially during exertion, is a classic symptom of heart failure due to the heart's inability to pump blood effectively.
You may also like to solve these questions
The following are true of vitamin K:
- A. It is a water-soluble vitamin
- B. It is found mainly in red meat
- C. After infancy most is synthesised by the gut flora
- D. Low levels after birth may lead to intracerebral haemorrhage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vitamin K is synthesized by gut flora after infancy. It is a fat-soluble vitamin, and low levels after birth can lead to hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
A nurse cares for a client who has advanced cardiac disease and states, I am having trouble sleeping at night. How should the nurse respond?
- A. I will consult the provider to prescribe a sleep study to determine the problem.
- B. You become hypoxic while sleeping; oxygen therapy via nasal cannula will help.
- C. A continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, breathing mask will help you breathe at night.
- D. Use pillows to elevate your head and chest while you are sleeping.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Elevating the head and chest can reduce fluid accumulation in the lungs, improving breathing and sleep quality in clients with advanced cardiac disease.
A chest radiograph film is ordered for a child with suspected cardiac problems. The child’s parent asks the nurse, “What will the radiograph show about the heart?†What knowledge about the x-ray should the nurse include in the response to the parents?
- A. Bones of chest but not the heart
- B. Measurement of electrical potential generated from heart muscle
- C. Permanent record of heart size and configuration
- D. Computerized image of heart vessels and tissues
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A chest radiograph will provide information on the heart size and pulmonary blood-flow patterns. It will provide a baseline for future comparisons. The heart will be visible, as well as the sternum and ribs. Electrocardiography (ECG) measures the electrical potential generated from heart muscle. Echocardiography will produce a computerized image of the heart vessels and tissues by using sound waves.
A child has third-degree burns of the hands, face, and chest. Which nursing diagnosis takes priority?
- A. Ineffective airway clearance related to edema
- B. Disturbed body image related to physical appearance
- C. Impaired urinary elimination related to fluid loss
- D. Risk for infection related to epidermal disruption
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Airway clearance is the top priority in burn patients, especially with facial burns, as swelling can obstruct the airway.
Tests used in establishing a diagnosis of coeliac disease are:
- A. IgA anti-endomysial antibodies
- B. IgM anti-reticulin antibodies
- C. IgA anti-gliadin antibodies
- D. Duodenal biopsy
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A duodenal biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing coeliac disease, as it provides histological confirmation of the disease.