Chapter 29: Management of Patients With Complications from Heart Disease

A client arrives at the ED with an exacerbation of left-sided heart failure and reports shortness of breath. Which is the priority nursing intervention? - Assess oxygen saturation A client asks the nurse if systolic heart failure will affect any other body function. What body system response correlates with systolic heart failure (HF)? - decrease in renal perfusion A client has a myocardial infarction in the left ventricle and develops crackles bilaterally; 3-pillow orthopnea; an S3 heart sound; and a cough with pink, frothy sputum. The nurse obtains a pulse oximetry reading of 88%. What do these signs and symptoms indicate for this client? - The development of left-sided heart failure A client has been experiencing increasing shortness of breath and fatigue. The health care provider has ordered a diagnostic test in order to determine what type of heart failure the client is having. What diagnostic test does the nurse anticipate being ordered? - An echocardiogram A client has been prescribed furosemide 80 mg twice daily. The asymptomatic client begins to have rare premature ventricular contractions followed by runs of bigeminy with stable signs. What action will the nurse perform next? - Check the client's potassium level. A client in the emergency room is in cardiac arrest and exhibiting pulseless electrical activity (PEA) on the cardiac monitor. What will be the nurse's next action? - Administer epinephrine. A client is at risk for excess fluid volume. Which nursing intervention ensures the most accurate monitoring of the client's fluid status? - Weighing the client daily at the same time each day