Deck 19: Care of Patients with Cardiac Disorders

Question 1

The nurse is caring for a patient with a history of left-sided congestive heart failure (CHF).Which finding leads the nurse to suspect that the patient could be experiencing an acute exacerbation of this condition?

A) The abdomen is tight and shiny.
B) Wheezes are present during lung auscultation.
C) The pupils react sluggishly to light.
D) The heart rate is irregularly irregular.

Answer 1

Wheezes are present during lung auscultation.

Question 2

Which statement accurately explains how calcium channel blocker verapamil assists to correct an arrhythmia?

A) The medication desensitizes the heart to the impulse to contract.
B) The medication increases the strength of the impulse from the atrioventricular (AV) node.
C) The medication alters the impulse from the sinoatrial (SA) node.
D) The medication inhibits transmission of the impulse from the AV node.

Answer 2

The medication inhibits transmission of the impulse from the AV node.

Question 3

The nurse is analyzing a patient's telemetry strip and observes a sawtooth appearance with no P waves.How should the nurse document this finding?

A) Premature ventricular contraction (PVC)
B) Atrial flutter
C) Ventricular tachycardia (VT)
D) Premature atrial contraction (PAC)

Answer 3

Atrial flutter

Question 4

The nurse is caring for a patient who is taking digitalis.The patient complains of increased thirst,and the nurse observes dry mucous membranes.Which additional finding warrants the nurse's immediate attention?

A) Sudden, sharp knee pain
B) Blurred vision
C) Epistaxis
D) Chills

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a patient with suspected right-sided heart failure.Which manifestation best supports this potential diagnosis?

A) Wheezing
B) Orthopnea
C) Edema
D) Pallor

Question 6

Which teaching point will the nurse include when providing discharge instructions to the patient with a new permanent pacemaker?

A) "You will be able to have an MRI for diagnostic purposes."
B) "Avoid using microwave ovens."
C) "Avoid lifting heavy objects for as long as your physician prescribes."
D) "Airport screening devices may cause your pacemaker to fire incorrectly."

Question 7

The nurse caring for a patient who is taking amiodarone (Cordarone).What side effect could this patient experience?

A) Sudden increase in temperature
B) Hypotension
C) Bradycardia
D) Depressed ventilation

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a 60-year-old African American patient with hypertension.The patient is obese and a smoker.Which modifiable risk factors place this patient at an increased risk for heart disease?

A) Age
B) Race
C) Hypertension
D) Obesity
E) Smoking

Question 9

The nurse is caring for a patient with a heart rate of 115 beats/min and complaints of shortness of breath.The nurse anticipates that these findings are most likely related which underlying problem?

A) Pulmonary edema
B) Decreased cardiac output
C) Impending pneumonia
D) Increasing anxiety

Question 10

Which potential hazard is most important for a patient with an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD)to avoid?

A) Static electricity from synthetic fabric
B) Airport security detection devices
C) Constricting clothing and belts
D) High altitudes

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a patient with atrial fibrillation who asks why she needs to take warfarin.Which statement best answers the patient's question?

A) Warfarin increases the ejection fraction.
B) Warfarin prevents clots from forming in the atria.
C) Warfarin keeps the atrial fibrillation from involving the ventricles.
D) Warfarin increases the cardiac output.

Question 12

The statement indicates that the nurse's teaching about the purpose of an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)has been successful?

A) "The ICD will detect bad rhythms and shock my heart into normal rhythm."
B) "I should avoid handheld security devices at the airport."
C) "I should ask my doctor how often I should have my ICD checked."
D) "I should avoid working on the alternator of my boat."

Question 13

The nurse is teaching the patient with an arrhythmia.Which statement indicates that the patient requires further teaching?

A) "I've cut my coffee from 10 cups to 2 cups a day."
B) "I don't drink regular cola drinks anymore."
C) "I have given up drinking those high-energy drinks."
D) "I've switched from 5 cups of coffee to 5 cups of tea."

Question 14

The nurse is caring for a patient with congestive heart failure (CHF).Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?

A) Encourage intake of canned soups.
B) Place the patient in a side-lying position to prevent venous pooling.
C) Encourage large meals for increased nutritional impact.
D) Alternate rest with activity.

Question 15

Which disorganized ECG pattern is recognized as the most fatal of all arrhythmias?

A) Ventricular fibrillation
B) Premature ventricular beats
C) Atrial fibrillation
D) Ventricular tachycardia (VT)

Question 16

The nurse is performing an initial assessment on a new patient with suspected right-sided heart failure.Which finding(s)is/are consistent with the patient's potential diagnosis?

A) Clammy skin
B) Splenomegaly
C) Abdominal distention
D) Wheezing
E) Dyspnea

Question 17

The nurse is caring for several patients on a cardiac care unit.Which patient is most likely to have aortic stenosis?

A) 35-year-old with a history of Raynaud disease
B) 63-year-old with uncontrolled diabetes
C) 73-year-old with a history of hypertension
D) 86-year-old with a history of atherosclerosis

Question 18

The home health nurse is caring for a patient with congestive heart failure (CHF).Which assessment finding should the nurse report immediately to the physician?

A) Moderate shortness of breath after walking down the hall
B) A 3 pound weight gain over the course of a week
C) Heart rate of 104 beats/min after ambulating to the bathroom
D) Increase in urinary output to 50 mL in the last hour

Question 19

The nurse is caring for a patient with severe congestive heart failure (CHF)who denies pain and is fearful of taking prescribed morphine.Which explanation best works to alleviate the patient's anxiety about risk of addiction?

A) "Many people with CHF use morphine for pain control."
B) "We can treat your pain with aspirin or ibuprofen."
C) "Morphine has properties that help relieve air hunger in CHF patients."
D) "You can refuse to take it."

Question 20

The nurse caring for a patient who requires a temporary transvenous pacemaker.Which statement indicates that the patient understands the nurse's teaching?

A) "I may experience uncomfortable muscle contractions."
B) "The procedure will use general anesthesia."
C) "I will be given a sedative after the procedure."
D) "This device may be left in place for 6 weeks."

Question 21

Which factor(s)is/are potential causative agents for arrhythmias?

A) Hyperkalemia
B) Valvular prolapse
C) Infarct damage
D) Properly functioning sinoatrial (SA) node
E) Excess fluid

Question 22

When the nurse assesses an apical pulse of 52,the nurse documents this arrhythmia as _________.

Question 23

The patient suffering from ventricular tachydysrhythmia may benefit from _________________ when medications are not effectively treating the disorder.

Question 24

The nurse expresses concern to the 80-year-old resident in a long-term care facility who is attempting to jog on a treadmill.The nurse is aware that the exceptional oxygen and metabolic demands brought on by the exercise might cause ____________.

Question 25

Which statement(s)accurately describe(s)characteristics of normal sinus rhythm (NSR)?

A) One atrial contraction (P wave)
B) One ventricular contraction (QRS complex)
C) One T wave
D) Heart rate 60 to 100
E) P wave immediately follows the QRS complex

Question 26

The nurse in a skilled nursing facility is caring for an 80-year-old patient who develops a productive cough with pink,frothy sputum.Which independent interventions should the nurse implement immediately?

A) Limit the patient's activity.
B) Administer morphine.
C) Administer lasix.
D) Place the patient in high Fowler position.
E) Weigh the patient daily.

Question 27

The nurse is educating a patient about cardiomyopathy.The nurse includes information that which circumstance(s)may increase risk for cardiomyopathy?

A) Systemic hypertension
B) Chronic excessive alcohol consumption
C) Pregnancy
D) Diabetes
E) Systemic infection