Final Exam Flashcards
By which method do antiplatelet medications, such as clopidogrel (Plavix), work to prevent thrombus?
They inhibit platelet aggregation.
Antiplatelets are used to prevent thrombosis in the arteries by suppressing platelet aggregation. Antiplatelets prolong bleeding time.
The nurse understands that which of the following are the main uses of antiplatelet drug therapy?
Prevention of repeat myocardial infarction or stroke
Prevention of myocardial infarction for patients with familial history
Prevention of stroke in patients having TIAs (transient ischemic attacks)
In developing a discharge teaching plan, the nurse will teach that the initial intervention for a patient taking an anticoagulant who cuts himself or herself is to
Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth to the cut for 5–10 minutes.
The nurse assesses the patient who is taking enoxaparin. Which signs and symptoms should prompt the nurse to take further action?
Petechiae
Bruising
Hematuria
The nurse prepares to administer enoxaparin to a patient who is post-operative total knee replacement. How should the nurse administer the medication?
Deep subQ injection
Which statement BEST describes how Heparin works as an anticoagulant?
It enhances the activation of antihrombin III, which prevents the activation of thrombin and the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin.
A patient is receiving Heparin IV for treatment of pulmonary emboli. The nurse would monitor all of the following labs:
Platelets
aPPT
Hemoglobin & Hematocrit
Which medication is associated with a risk of heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)?
Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
The nurse knows that clopidogrel should be discontinued in the preoperative patient at what point in time?
5 days (up to a week before)
A patient is to be discharged with a transdermal nitroglycerin patch. Which instruction should the nurse include in the patient’s teaching plan?
“Apply the patch to a non-hairy area of the upper torso or arm.”
A nurse is monitoring a patient with angina for therapeutic effects of nitroglycerin. Which assessment finding indicates that the nitroglycerin has been effective?
Patient stating that pain is 0 out of 10
The patient taking nitroglycerin should expect the therapeutic effect of absence of chest pain.
The nurse is monitoring a patient during IV nitroglycerin infusion. Which assessment finding warrants nursing action?
Chest pain
Which statement made by the patient demonstrates a need for additional instruction from the nurse regarding the use of nitroglycerin?
“I can take up to five tablets at 3-minute intervals for chest pain if necessary.”
Patients are taught to take up to three tablets every 5 min. If no relief from chest pain is obtained after one tablet, they should seek medical assistance and take up to two more tablets.
“If I get a headache, I should keep taking nitroglycerin and use Tylenol for pain relief.”
“I should change positions slowly to avoid getting dizzy.”
“I should keep my nitroglycerin in a cool, dry place.”
Which patient assessment would assist the nurse in evaluating therapeutic effects of a calcium channel blocker?
Absence of chest pain.
The workload in the heart should be decreased with the vasodilation from the calcium channel blocker. With less strain, the patient should have fewer incidences of angina as afterload is decreased.
Before the nurse administers isosorbide dinitrate, what is a priority nursing assessment?
Assess blood pressure
Isosorbide dinitrate is a vasodilator and thus can cause hypotension. It is important to assess blood pressure before administering.
The patient asks the nurse how nitroglycerin should be stored while traveling. What is the nurse’s best response?
“It’s best to keep it in its original container away from heat and light.”
Which statement indicates to the nurse that the patient understands sublingual nitroglycerin medication instructions?
“I should sit or lie down after I take a nitroglycerin tablet to prevent dizziness.”
What instruction should the nurse provide to the patient who needs to apply nitroglycerin ointment?
Apply the ointment to a non-hairy part of the upper torso.
A patient receiving intravenous nitroglycerin at 20 mcg/min complains of dizziness. Nursing assessment reveals a blood pressure of 85/40 mm Hg, heart rate of 110 beats/min, and respiratory rate of 16 breaths/min. What is the nurse’s priority action?
Decrease the intravenous nitroglycerin by 10 mcg/min.
Nitroglycerin, as a vasodilator, causes a decrease in blood pressure. Because it is short-acting, decreasing the infusion rate will allow the blood pressure to rise. The patient should be monitored every 10 min while changing the rate of the intravenous nitroglycerin infusion
A patient’s serum digoxin level is noted to be 0.4 ng/mL. What is the nurse’s priority action?
Administer ordered dose of digoxin.
Therapeutic serum digoxin levels are 0.8–2 ng/mL. The patient should receive the next dose to bring the level into therapeutic range.
A patient is taking digoxin 0.25 mg and furosemide 40 mg. The patient tells the nurse, there are yellow halos around the lights. Which priority action will the nurse take?
Evaluate digoxin levels.
Seeing yellow or green halos around lights is a symptom of digoxin toxicity. The nurse should evaluate the patient’s digoxin levels.
Which assessment finding will alert the nurse to suspect early digitalis toxicity?
Loss of appetite with slight bradycardia
Early symptoms of digitalis toxicity include anorexia, nausea and vomiting, and bradycardia.
A patient is being treated for short-term management of heart failure with milrinone. What is the primary nursing action?
Monitor cardiac rhythm and blood pressure continuously.
Milrinone lactate is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor administered intravenously for short-term treatment in patients with heart failure not responding adequately to digoxin, diuretics, or other vasodilators. Blood pressure and heart rate should be closely monitored.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has been started on ibutilide. Which assessment is a priority for this patient?
ECG and palpitations
Ibutilide is specifically indicated for treatment of recent-onset atrial fibrillation and flutter. It is important for the nurse to obtain an ECG to see if the patient has converted to sinus rhythm and to watch for palpitations.
When titrating intravenous nitroglycerin for a patient, what is most important for the nurse to monitor?
Presence of chest pain
Continuous blood pressure
Intravenous nitroglycerin can cause hypotension and tachycardia.
An oral anticoagulant that antagonizes vitamin K to prevent synthesis of four coagulation factors.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Which anticoagulant requires monitoring for PT and INR
Warfarin
Medications that attack and dissolve existing clots, typically end in “plase”, such as alteplase.
Thrombolytics
A selective Factor Xa inhibitor that prevents clot formation, used for DVT, PE, and atrial fibrillation.
Apixaban (Eliquis)
A parenteral anticoagulant that inactivates thrombin, affecting clotting cascade. Must be given subcutaneously or via IV.
Heparin
Which medication requires monitoring of aPTT?
Heparin
Medications that prevent platelet aggregation, such as clopidogrel and aspirin, used to prevent arterial thrombosis
Antiplatelets
INR therapeutic range
2-3 for patients on warfarin therapy
An antiplatelet agent that prevents platelet aggregation, may be prescribed with aspirin
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
A thrombolytic medication that converts plasminogen to plasmin, used within 3-4 hours of MI or 3 hours for thrombotic stroke.
Alteplase (aPA)
An aspirin toxicity that is a medical emergency requiring activated charcoal, IV fluids, and possible gastric lavage.
Salicylism
The reversal agent for factor Xa inhibitors like apixabian.
Andexxa
A low molecular weight heparin that inactivates Xa factor, used for prophylaxis of AMI, thrombosis, and treatment of PE and DVT
Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
What is a clot formation in the blood vessel called?
Thrombus
What is PE?
Pulmonary embolism, a condition where a blood clot travels to the lungs, requires anticoagulant treatment.
What is the antidote for warfarin?
Vitamin K, takes 24-48 hours to be effective.
What is the antidote used for heparin and enoxaparin overdose?
Protamine sulfate
What are the EGGGOS?
Supplements to avoid with anticoagulants:
Vitamin E, Gingko biloba, Ginseng, Garlic, Omega 3, St. John’s wort
Antiplatelet medication that inhibits COX-1 & 2, prostaglandin synthesis, and platelet aggregation.
Aspirin
Medications that prevent clot formation, such as heparin, enoxaparin, warfarin, and apixaban.
Anticoagulants
What are NOACs/DOACs?
Novel/Direct-acting oral anticoagulants that do not require routine coagulation monitoring and have a wide therapeutic window.
A dislodged clot that moves through the bloodstream.
Embolus
When should heparin therapy be stopped based on platelet count?
Below 100,000
What is the recommended time window for administering alteplase (tPA) following a thrombolytic stroke?
Within 3 hours
What is the mechanism of action for heparin?
Inactivates thrombin, affecting clotting cascade, preventing clot formation.
Which medication is selective Factor Xa inhibitor?
Apixaban
Which anticoagulant is contraindicated during pregnancy?
Warfarin
What is the primary difference between a thrombus and an embolus?
An embolus of a dislodged clot moving through the bloodstream
What is the antidote for heparin?
Protamine sulfate
Any deviation from the normal rate or pattern of heartbeat, including rhythms that are too slow, too fast, or irregular.
Dysrhythmias
Medications that block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II and decrease levels of bradykinin, used to teat hypertension and heart failure.
ACE inhibitors
A type of lipoprotein that can contribute to plaque build up in arteries, often referred to as bad cholesterol.
LDL (low density lipoprotein)
Drugs that increases the force of heart muscle contraction
Positive Inotropic Agents
A medication that slows impulse conduction through AV nodes to restore normal sinus rhythm, primarily used to paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.
Adenosine
Medications that block beta receptors in the myocardium and electrical conduction system of the heart, used to treat hypertension, heart attack, and angina.
Beta Blockers
Consistent elevation of systemic arterial blood pressure that requires early intervention to reduce cardiovascular mortality.
Hypertension
An HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used to treat hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis by inhibiting cholesterol production.
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
A condition characterized by elevated levels of lipids in the blood, including cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.
Hyperlipidemia
Medications that inhibit calcium influx across myocardial and vascular smooth muscle cell membranes, used to treat hypertension and angina.
Calcium Channel Blockers
A condition where ventricles cannot pump enough blood for bodys needs, caused by weakening of the heart muscle due to aging or disease.
Heart Failure
A class III antiarrhythmic that increases the refractory period and prolongs action potential duration, used for life-threatening ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation.
Amiodarone
A nitrate medication that dilates veins and decreases preload to reduce cardiac oxygen demand and prevent/reduce coronary artery spasms.
Nitroglycerin
A type of protein that helps remove cholesterol from the bloodstream, often referred to as good cholesterol.
HDL (high density lipoprotein)
Chest pain caused by inadequate blood flow to the myocardium due to either plaque build up or spasms of the coronary arteries.
Angina Pectoris
A cardiac glycoside that increases force and efficiency of myocardial contraction and decreases heart rate, used as a second-line treatment for heart failure.
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
A serious condition with symptoms including anorexia, nausea, vomiting, vision changes, and bradycardia, occurring when digoxin levels exceed therapeutic range of 0.8-2 ng/mL
Digoxin Toxicity
An ACE inhibitor that treats hypertension and heart failure by blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II.
Lisinopril
A form of angina that occurs more frequently with progressive severity unrelated to activity and is unpredictable, often indicating an impending MI
Unstable angina
Mechanism that facilitate or impair the circulation of blood, ranging from optimal ro no perfusion (tissue/cellular ischemia)
Perfusion
Which population may not respond well to beta blockers alone for hypertension?
African American patients
Which population may not respond well to beta blockers alone for hypertension?
African American patients
What is the therapeutic level range for digoxin?
0.8-2 ng/mL
What is the half-life of andenosine?
Less than 5 seconds
What is the maximum number of sublingual nitroglycerin tablets that should be taken during an angina attack?
3 tablets
Which medication requires protection from light during administration?
Nitroprusside
What is the primary MOA of ACE inhibitors like lisinopril?
Blocks conversion of angiotensin I to II
Which drug class does atorvastatin (Lipitor) belong to?
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
What is one of the side effects of digoxin?
Yellow-green halos around objects.
What is a contraindication for calcium channel blockers?
Heart block
How should amiodarone be used due to its toxicity risk?
Only for life-threatening arrhythmias
Which potassium level should be maintained for patients on digoxin?
3.5-5.0 mEq/L