Cardiovascular System

Question 0

Develop a teaching plan for a client taking nitroglycerin.

Answer 0

Take at first sign of anginal pain. Take no more than three, 5 minutes apart. Call for emergency attention if no relief in 10 minutes.

Question 1

How do clients experiencing angina describe that pain?

Answer 1

Described as squeezing, heavy, burning, radiates to the left arm or shoulder, transient or prolonged.

Question 2

List the parameters of BP for diagnosing HTN.

Answer 2

> 140/90

Question 3

Differentiate between essential and secondary HTN.

Answer 3

• Essential HTN has no known cause

- Secondary HTN develops in response to an identifiable mechanism

Question 4

Develop a teaching plan for a client taking hypertensive medications.

Answer 4

Explain how and when to take medication, reason for medication, necessity of compliance, need for follow-up visits while on medication, need for certain lab tests, and vital sign parameters while initiating therapy.

Question 5

Describe intermittent claudication.

Answer 5

• Pain related to PVD

- The pain occurs with exercise and disappears with rest

Question 6

Describe the nurse’s discharge instructions to a client with venous PVD.

Answer 6

Keep extremities elevated when sitting, rest at first sign of pain, keep extremities warm (but do not use heating pad), change position often, avoid crossing legs, wear unrestrictive clothing.

Question 7

What is often the underlying cause of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?

Answer 7

Atherosclerosis

Question 8

What lab values should be monitored daily in a client with thrombophlebitis who is undergoing anticoagulant therapy?

Answer 8

PTT, PT, Hgb, Hct, platelets

Question 9

When do PVCs present a grave danger?

Answer 9

When they begin to occur more often than once in 10 beats, occur in twos or threes, land near the T wave, or take on multiple configurations.

Question 10

Differentiate between the symptoms of left-sided cardiac failure and right-sided cardiac failure.

Answer 10

• Left-sided failure results in pulmonary congestion due to backup of circulation in the left ventricle.
• Right-sided failure results in peripheral congestion due to backup of circulation in the right ventricle.

*left=lungs, right=rest of body

Question 11

List three symptoms of digitalis toxicity.

Answer 11

• Dysrhythmias
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting

Question 12

What condition increases the likelihood that digitalis toxicity will occur?

Answer 12

Hypokalemia (which is more common when diuretics and digitalis preparations are given together)

Question 13

What lifestyle changes can the client who is at risk for HTN initiate to reduce the likelihood of becoming hypertensive?

Answer 13

Cease cigarette smoking, if applicable; control weight, exercise regularly, and maintain a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet.

Question 14

What immediate actions should the nurse implement when a client is having a myocardial infarction?

Answer 14

• Place the client on immediate strict bed rest to lower O2 demands on heart
• Administer O2 by nasal cannula at 2 to 5 L/min
• Take measures to alleviate pain and anxiety (administer PRN pain medications and antianxiety medications)

Question 15

What symptoms should the nurse expect to find in a client with hypokalemia?

Answer 15

Dry mouth and thirst, drowsiness and lethargy, muscle weakness and aches, and tachycardia.

Question 16

Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate below ___ bpm. Tachycardia is defined as a heart rate above ___ bpm.

Answer 16

60 bpm; 100 bpm

Question 17

What precautions should clients with valve disease take prior to invasive procedures or dental work?

Answer 17

Take prophylactic antibiotics.