The nurse suspects that compensatory mechanisms have been activated in a patient with heart failure. What did the nurse assess to make this clinical determination?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1. An elevated temperature is not a compensatory mechanism in heart failure.
2. A respiratory rate of 20 per minute is within normal limits.
3. A blood pressure of 138/84 mm Hg is within normal limits and does not necessarily indicate that compensatory mechanisms have been activated.
4. As heart function fails and the cardiac output (CO) decreases, compensatory mechanisms are activated. The role of these compensatory mechanisms is to maintain perfusion to the vital organs. In response to a decreased CO, the sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate.

The Nurse Suspects That Compensatory Mechanisms Have Been Activated in a Patient