Nokea
The OR nurse is explaining to a patient that cardiac surgery requires the absence of blood from the surgical field. At the same time, it is imperative to maintain perfusion of body organs and tissues. What technique for achieving these simultaneous goals should the nurse describe?
- A. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
- B. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
- C. Atherectomy
- D. Cardiopulmonary bypass
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cardiopulmonary bypass is often used to circulate and oxygenate blood mechanically while bypassing the heart and lungs. PTCA, atherectomy, and CABG are all surgical procedures, none of which achieves the two goals listed.
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Family members bring a patient to the ED with pale cool skin, sudden midsternal chest pain unrelieved with rest, and a history of CAD. How should the nurse best interpret these initial data?
- A. The symptoms indicate angina and should be treated as such
- B. The symptoms indicate a pulmonary etiology rather than a cardiac etiology
- C. The symptoms indicate an acute coronary episode and should be treated as such
- D. Treatment should be determined pending the results of an exercise stress test
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Angina and MI have similar symptoms and are considered the same process, but are on different points along a continuum. That the patients symptoms are unrelieved by rest suggests an acute coronary episode rather than angina. Pale cool skin and sudden onset are inconsistent with a pulmonary etiology. Treatment should be initiated immediately regardless of diagnosis.
A patient presents to the walk-in clinic complaining of intermittent chest pain on exertion, which is eventually attributed to angina. The nurse should inform the patient that angina is most often attributable to what cause?
- A. Decreased cardiac output
- B. Decreased cardiac contractility
- C. Infarction of the myocardium
- D. Coronary arteriosclerosis
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In most cases, angina pectoris is due to arteriosclerosis. The disease is not a result of impaired cardiac output or contractility. Infarction may result from untreated angina, but it is not a cause of the disease.
The nurse is assessing a patient who was admitted to the critical care unit 3 hours ago following cardiac surgery. The nurses most recent assessment reveals that the patients left pedal pulses are not palpable and that the right pedal pulses are rated at +2. What is the nurses best response?
- A. Document this expected assessment finding during the initial postoperative period
- B. Reposition the patient with his left leg in a dependent position
- C. Inform the patients physician of this assessment finding
- D. Administer an ordered dose of subcutaneous heparin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: If a pulse is absent in any extremity, the cause may be prior catheterization of that extremity, chronic peripheral vascular disease, or a thromboembolic obstruction. The nurse immediately reports newly identified absence of any pulse.
The nurse is providing an educational workshop about coronary artery disease (CAD) and its risk factors. The nurse explains to participants that CAD has many risk factors, some that can be controlled and some that cannot. What risk factors would the nurse list that can be controlled or modified?
- A. Gender, obesity, family history, and smoking
- B. Inactivity, stress, gender, and smoking
- C. Obesity, inactivity, diet, and smoking
- D. Stress, family history, and obesity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The risk factors for CAD that can be controlled or modified include obesity, inactivity, diet, stress, and smoking. Gender and family history are risk factors that cannot be controlled.
The nurse is creating a plan of care for a patient with acute coronary syndrome. What nursing action should be included in the patients care plan?
- A. Facilitate daily arterial blood gas (ABG) sampling
- B. Administer supplementary oxygen, as needed
- C. Have patient maintain supine positioning when in bed
- D. Perform chest physiotherapy, as indicated
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oxygen should be administered along with medication therapy to assist with symptom relief. Administration of oxygen raises the circulating level of oxygen to reduce pain associated with low levels of myocardial oxygen. Physical rest in bed with the head of the bed elevated or in a supportive chair helps decrease chest discomfort and dyspnea. ABGs are diagnostic, not therapeutic, and they are rarely needed on a daily basis. Chest physiotherapy is not used in the treatment of ACS.