The client diagnosed with chronic kidney disease is scheduled for hemodialysis. When should the nurse plan to administer the client's daily dose of enalapril to ensure its effectiveness?
- A. During dialysis
- B. Just before dialysis
- C. The day after dialysis
- D. Upon return from dialysis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Antihypertensive medications, such as enalapril, are administered to the client after hemodialysis. This prevents the client from becoming hypotensive during dialysis and also from having the medication removed from the bloodstream by dialysis. There is no rationale for waiting a full day to resume the medication. This would lead to ineffective control of the blood pressure.
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When a client experiences frequent runs of ventricular tachycardia, the primary health care provider prescribes flecainide. Because of the effects of the medication, which nursing intervention is specific to this client's safety?
- A. Monitor the client's urinary output.
- B. Assess the client for neurological problems.
- C. Ensure that the bed rails remain in the up position.
- D. Monitor the client's vital signs and electrocardiogram (ECG) frequently.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Flecainide is an antidysrhythmic medication that slows conduction and decreases excitability, conduction velocity, and automaticity. However, the nurse must monitor for the development of a new or worsening dysrhythmia. Options 1, 2, and 3 are components of standard care but are not specific to this medication.
A client has received atropine sulfate preoperatively. The nurse monitors the client for which effect of the medication in the immediate postoperative period?
- A. Diarrhea
- B. Bradycardia
- C. Urinary retention
- D. Excessive salivation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Atropine sulfate is an anticholinergic medication that causes tachycardia, drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, and urinary retention. The nurse should monitor the client for any of these effects in the immediate postoperative period. None of the other options relate to this medication.
The nurse has just finished assisting the primary health care provider in placing a central intravenous (IV) line. Which is a priority intervention to assure the client's safety?
- A. Assessing the client's pain level
- B. Assessing the client's temperature
- C. Preparing the client for a chest x-ray
- D. Monitoring the client's blood pressure (BP)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A major risk associated with central line placement is the possibility of a pneumothorax developing from an accidental puncture of the lung. Assessing the results of a chest radiograph is one of the best methods to determine if this complication has occurred and verify catheter tip placement before initiating IV therapy. A temperature elevation related to central line insertion would not likely occur immediately after placement. Pain management is important but is not the priority at this point. Although BP assessment is always important in assessing a client's status after an invasive procedure, fluid volume overload is not a concern until IV fluids are started.
The nurse is monitoring a client in the telemetry unit who has recently been admitted with the diagnosis of chest pain and notes this heart rate pattern on the monitoring strip. What is the initial action to be taken by the nurse?
- A. Notify the primary health care provider.
- B. Initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- C. Continue to monitor the client and the heart rate patterns.
- D. Administer oxygen with a face mask at 8 to 10 L per minute.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The monitor is showing ventricular fibrillation, a life-threatening dysrhythmia that requires CPR and defibrillation to maintain life. Although the primary health care provider must be notified, CPR is the initial action. Oxygen is necessary, but again the initiation of CPR is the priority because it will provide more than just oxygen to the client. Monitoring the client is necessary, but not as an initial action; emergency resuscitative treatment must be provided to the client immediately.
The nurse admitting a client diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI) to the coronary care unit (CCU) should plan care by implementing which intervention?
- A. Beginning thrombolytic therapy
- B. Placing the client on continuous cardiac monitoring
- C. Infusing intravenous (IV) fluid at a rate of 150 mL per hour
- D. Administering oxygen at a rate of 6 L per minute by nasal cannula
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standard interventions upon admittance to the CCU as they relate to this question include continuous cardiac monitoring. Thrombolytic therapy may or may not be prescribed by the primary health care provider. Thrombolytic agents are most effective if administered within the first 6 hours of the coronary event. The nurse should ensure that there is an adequate IV line insertion of an intermittent lock. If an IV infusion is administered, it is maintained at a keep-vein-open rate to prevent fluid overload and heart failure. Oxygen should be administered at a rate of 2 to 4 L per minute unless otherwise prescribed.