Med Surg: Cardiovascular Nursing Care

Question 1

What is Coronary Artery Circulation?

Answer 1

Provides blood to the heart muscle

Blood flow occurs primarily during diastole

Systolic pressure at least 60 for adequate blood flow

Arteries originate near the Aortic Valve

Two main brances: left/right coronary artery

Question 2

What are the different heart valves?

Answer 2

Atrioventricular valves (cuspid)

• Tricuspid, Mitral

Semilunar Valve

• Pulmonic, Aortic

Question 3

What is preload and afterload?

Answer 3

Preload: degree of myocardial stretch at end diastole, just before contration. Cardiac muscle contracts more efficiently when shtretched before contration

Afterload: amount resistance developed in ventricles during systole. Related to arterial pressure and diameter vessels. Pressure in arteries against which heart mucst eject blood

Question 4

What is cardiac output?

Answer 4

The volume of blood ejected by the ventricles per minute

Question 5

What is stroke volume?

Answer 5

AMount of blood ejected by the heart with each beat

Influenced by preload, afterload, heart rate and contractility

Question 6

What is blood pressure?

Answer 6

Force of arterial blood exerted against the vessel wall

Systolic: occurs in an artery with each contration of the heart at 120 mm Hg

Diastolic: pressure against the arterial wall during rest at 60-90 mmHg

Question 7

What data should be collected during a cardiac assessment?

Answer 7

Indications: SOB, chest pain, tachycardia, anxiety with other signs

Data Collection:

• History: women, family history, race, obesity, orthopnea, paroxosismal nocturnal dyspnea, color, edema, poor capillary refill, cough
• Significant S&S: dyspnea, chest pain, dizziness, HTN, headache
• Review of physiological systems: respiratory, renal and LOCA

Question 8

What is the Cardiac Physical Assessment?

Answer 8

Inspection: diaphoresis, jugluar vein distention, pulsations, clubbing, LOC, skin/mucous membranes

Palpation: pulses, edema, diaphoresis, skin temperature, capillary refill, pulsations or thrill

Auscultation: heart sounds, vessels that have thrills, BP

Percussion: heart borders (dull compared to lungs) for size

Question 9

What are the cardiac enzyme levels?

Answer 9

LOOK AT THE POWERPOINT