Nokea
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) occur while the nurse is suctioning a patient's endotracheal tube. Which of the following actions by the nurse is best?
- A. Decrease the suction pressure to 80 mm Hg.
- B. Stop and ventilate the patient with 100% oxygen.
- C. Document the dysrhythmia in the patient's chart.
- D. Give prescribed PRN antidysrhythmic medications.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dysrhythmias during suctioning may indicate hypoxemia or sympathetic nervous system stimulation, and the nurse should stop suctioning and ventilate the patient with 100% oxygen. Lowering the suction pressure will decrease the effectiveness of suctioning without improving the hypoxemia. Because the PVCs occurred during suctioning, there is no need for antidysrhythmic medications (which may have adverse effects) unless they recur when the patient is well oxygenated.
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The nurse is preparing to assist with the insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter in a patient. Which of the following actions will the nurse implement?
- A. Check cardiac enzymes before insertion.
- B. Auscultate heart sounds during insertion.
- C. Place the patient on NPO status before the procedure.
- D. Attach cardiac monitoring leads before the procedure.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Dysrhythmias can occur as the catheter is floated through the right atrium and ventricle, and it is important for the nurse to monitor for these during insertion. Pulmonary artery catheter insertion does not require anaesthesia, and the patient will not need to be NPO. Changes in cardiac enzymes or heart sounds are not expected during pulmonary artery catheter insertion.
When a patient's pulmonary artery catheter becomes wedged and does not reflect pulmonary artery pressures, which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- A. Reposition the patient and check for a pulmonary artery tracing.
- B. Deflate the balloon and flush the catheter with saline.
- C. Notify a health care provider or specially trained nurse.
- D. Increase the volume in the balloon to open the catheter.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When the catheter is in the wedge position, blood flow past the catheter is obstructed, placing the patient at risk for pulmonary infarction. A health care provider or specially trained nurse should be called to reposition the catheter. The other actions will not correct the wedging of the PA catheter.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is in cardiogenic shock requiring an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Which of the following assessment findings indicates that the goals of treatment with the IABP are being met?
- A. Heart rate of 110 beats/minute
- B. Urine output of 20 mL/hour
- C. Cardiac output (CO) of 5 L/minute
- D. Stroke volume (SV) of 40 mL/beat
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A CO of 5 L/minute is normal (range is 4-8 L/minute) and indicates that the IABP has been successful in treating the shock. The low SV signifies continued cardiogenic shock. The tachycardia and low urine output also suggest continued cardiogenic shock.
The nurse is monitoring for the effectiveness of treatment for a patient with left ventricular failure. Which of the following assessments is most important for the nurse to evaluate?
- A. Mean arterial pressure (MAP)
- B. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR)
- C. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR)
- D. Pulmonary artery occlusive pressure (PAOP)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: PAOP reflects left ventricular end diastolic pressure (or left ventricular preload). Because the patient in left ventricular failure will have a high PAOP, a decrease in this value will be the best indicator of patient improvement. The other values would also provide useful information, but the most definitive measurement of improvement is a drop in PAOP.
The nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure requiring a ventricular assist device (VAD) implanted and is waiting for cardiac transplantation. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
- A. Administer of immuno-suppressive medications.
- B. Monitor the surgical incision for signs of infection.
- C. Teach the patient the reason for continuous bed rest.
- D. Prepare the patient to have the VAD in place permanently.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The insertion site for the VAD provides a source for transmission of infection to the circulatory system and requires frequent monitoring. Patients with VADs are able to have some mobility and may not be on bed rest. The VAD is a bridge to transplantation, not a permanent device. Immuno-suppression is not necessary for nonbiological devices like the VAD.