Concepts and Cases in Nursing Ethics Test Bank Related

Review Concepts and Cases in Nursing Ethics Test Bank related questions and content

The nurse is caring for a client with congestive heart failure (CHF) who frequently wakes during the night frightened and short of breath. Based on this data, what is the client experiencing?

  • A. Cardiomyopathy
  • B. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
  • C. High-output failure
  • D. Multisystem heart failure
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is a symptom commonly seen in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). It is characterized by sudden awakening from sleep due to difficulty breathing and feeling of suffocation. This occurs because when the patient lies down, the redistribution of fluid in the body leads to increased fluid in the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. Patients with CHF often experience worsening of symptoms at night, including paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, due to the shift in fluid dynamics in a supine position. Therefore, the client in this scenario is likely experiencing paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, a classic symptom of heart failure exacerbation.