Nokea
The nurse is teaching the patient with heart failure about a 2 g sodium diet. Which of the following foods should the nurse explain to the patient that need to be restricted?
- A. Canned and frozen fruits
- B. Fresh or frozen vegetables
- C. Milk, yogurt, and other milk products
- D. Eggs and other high-cholesterol foods
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Milk and yogurt naturally contain a significant amount of sodium, and intake of these should be limited for patients on a diet that limits sodium to 2 g daily. Other milk products, such as processed cheeses, have very high levels of sodium and are not appropriate for a 2 g sodium diet. The other foods listed have minimal levels of sodium and can be eaten without restriction.
You may also like to solve these questions
Which of the following diagnostic tests will be most useful to the nurse in determining whether a patient admitted with acute shortness of breath has heart failure?
- A. Serum creatine kinase (CK)
- B. Arterial blood gases (ABGs)
- C. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
- D. 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: BNP is secreted when ventricular pressures increase, as with heart failure, and elevated BNP indicates a probable or very probable diagnosis of heart failure. 12-lead ECGs, ABGs, and CK also may be used in determining the causes or effects of heart failure but are not as clearly diagnostic of heart failure as BNP.
A patient who has chronic heart failure tells the nurse, 'I felt fine when I went to bed, but I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I was suffocating!' Which of the following information should the nurse document related to this assessment?
- A. Pulsus alternans
- B. Two-pillow orthopnea
- C. Acute bilateral pleural effusion
- D. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is caused by the reabsorption of fluid from dependent body areas when the patient is sleeping and is characterized by waking up suddenly with the feeling of suffocation. Pulsus alternans is the alternation of strong and weak peripheral pulses during palpation. Orthopnea indicates that the patient is unable to lie flat because of dyspnea. Pleural effusions develop over a longer time period.
A patient with a history of chronic heart failure is admitted to the emergency department (ED) with severe dyspnea and a dry, hacking cough. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- A. Palpate the abdomen.
- B. Assess the orientation.
- C. Check the capillary refill.
- D. Auscultate the lung sounds.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This patient's severe dyspnea and cough indicate that acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is occurring. ADHF usually manifests as pulmonary edema, which should be detected and treated immediately to prevent ongoing hypoxemia and cardiac or respiratory arrest. The other assessments will provide useful data about the patient's volume status and also should be accomplished rapidly, but detection (and treatment) of pulmonary complications is the priority.
The nurse is caring for a patient with right-sided heart failure who asks the nurse what caused the heart failure. Which of the following causes is the primary cause of right-sided heart failure?
- A. Cor pulmonale
- B. Chronic pulmonary hypertension
- C. Left-sided heart failure
- D. Acute decompensated heart failure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The primary cause of right-sided failure is left-sided failure. In this situation, left-sided failure results in pulmonary congestion and increased pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).
Which of the following actions is priority when caring for a patient admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) who is receiving a nitrate?
- A. Monitor blood pressure frequently.
- B. Encourage patient to ambulate in room.
- C. Titrate nitrate rate slowly before discontinuing.
- D. Teach patient about safe home use of the medication.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Nitrates cause vasodilation therefore BP should be frequently monitored. Since the patient is likely to have orthostatic hypotension, the patient should not be encouraged to ambulate. Nitrate does not require titration and the priority is not to teach about safe use at home.