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What is the ability of cardiac cells to respond to an impulse by transmitting the impulse along cell membranes?
- A. Contractility
- B. Automaticity
- C. Conductivity
- D. Rhythmicity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Conductivity. Cardiac cells have the ability to transmit impulses along cell membranes, allowing for the coordinated contraction of the heart. Conductivity refers to this specific property of cardiac cells to propagate electrical signals.
Contractility (A) refers to the ability of cardiac muscle cells to generate force during contraction. Automaticity (B) refers to the ability of cardiac cells to spontaneously generate electrical impulses. Rhythmicity (D) refers to the regularity of these electrical impulses in the heart. Conductivity is the most relevant choice as it directly addresses the transmission of impulses along cell membranes in cardiac cells.
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Which type of medication helps to lower cholesterol levels in the blood?
- A. Statins
- B. Beta-blockers
- C. ACE inhibitors
- D. Diuretics
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Statins are the correct answer as they specifically target and lower cholesterol levels in the blood by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in the liver responsible for producing cholesterol. Statins are proven to reduce LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of cardiovascular events. Beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics do not directly affect cholesterol levels; beta-blockers are used for managing blood pressure and heart rate, ACE inhibitors for blood pressure and heart function, and diuretics for reducing fluid buildup in the body. Therefore, statins are the most appropriate medication for lowering cholesterol levels.
The client has a prescription for sublingual nitroglycerin. What is the nurse's instruction for how to take this medication during an episode of chest pain?
- A. Take one tablet every 5 minutes, up to three tablets.
- B. Take one tablet every hour until the pain subsides.
- C. Take two tablets immediately if chest pain occurs.
- D. Take one tablet with a full glass of water.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Sublingual nitroglycerin is taken under the tongue to quickly relieve chest pain. The nurse should instruct the client to take one tablet every 5 minutes during an episode of chest pain, up to a maximum of three tablets. This is because nitroglycerin works rapidly to dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow to the heart, helping to relieve angina symptoms. Taking one tablet every hour or two tablets immediately may not provide adequate relief and could lead to an overdose. Taking the tablet with water is unnecessary as the medication is absorbed through the mucous membranes under the tongue.
The client is on spironolactone (Aldactone) and has a potassium level of 5.9 mEq/L. What is the nurse's priority action?
- A. Hold the spironolactone and notify the healthcare provider.
- B. Administer potassium supplements.
- C. Continue the spironolactone as ordered.
- D. Increase the dose of spironolactone.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hold the spironolactone and notify the healthcare provider. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that can cause hyperkalemia. With a potassium level of 5.9 mEq/L, the client is at risk for serious complications like cardiac arrhythmias. The priority action is to stop the medication to prevent further elevation of potassium levels and inform the healthcare provider for further management. Administering potassium supplements (B) would worsen the hyperkalemia. Continuing spironolactone (C) or increasing the dose (D) would be inappropriate and potentially harmful in this situation.
The patient is experiencing chest pain and pain radiating to his arms, jaw, and back. The provider diagnosed his condition as a myocardial infarction. The patient asks what happened to him. The best response is:
- A. You cannot tell him what has happened; he needs to wait for the provider to return and explain what is going on currently.
- B. His aortic valve was malformed at birth causing a disruption in blood flow.
- C. All patients who are overweight like him will have a heart attack.
- D. One or more arteries that supply blood to his heart are blocked, thereby preventing an adequate amount of blood from getting to his cardiac muscles.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A myocardial infarction occurs when there is a blockage in one or more arteries supplying blood to the heart.
Which condition involves the enlargement and weakening of the left ventricle of the heart, leading to reduced pumping ability?
- A. Dilated cardiomyopathy
- B. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- C. Restrictive cardiomyopathy
- D. Pericarditis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Dilated cardiomyopathy. This condition involves the enlargement and weakening of the left ventricle, leading to reduced pumping ability. This results in the heart being unable to pump blood efficiently, causing symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (B) is the thickening of the heart muscle, not enlargement. Restrictive cardiomyopathy (C) involves stiffening of the heart muscle, not weakening. Pericarditis (D) is inflammation of the pericardium, not the heart muscle itself.