Heart Failure Management and Nursing
Considerations ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Heart Failure (HF) - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The inability of the heart to pump sufficient
blood to meet the needs of the tissues for oxygen and nutrients.
Heart Failure Definition - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A syndrome characterized by fluid
overload or inadequate tissue perfusion.
Systolic Failure - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A problem with the contraction of the heart.
Diastolic Failure - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A problem with the filling of the heart.
Renin Angiotensin System - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Restricted blood flow to the
kidneys - reduces GFR- release renin-stimulates Angiotensin I- converts to angiotensin II
(vasoconstrictor)- increased SVR and aldosterone from the adrenal gland- promotes sodium
and water reabsorption- preload increase- heart workload increase.
Clinical Manifestations of Heart Failure - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Right Sided, Left
Sided, Viscera and peripheral congestion, Jugular venous distention (JVD), Dependent
edema, Hepatomegaly, Ascites, Weight gain, Pulmonary congestion, crackles, S3 or
'ventricular gallop', Dyspnea on exertion (DOE), Orthopnea, Dry, nonproductive cough
initially, Oliguria.
Pulmonary Edema - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Acute event in which the LV cannot handle
an overload of blood volume, causing fluid movement out of the pulmonary capillaries and
into the interstitial space of the lungs and alveoli, resulting in hypoxemia.
Clinical Manifestations of Pulmonary Edema - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Restlessness,
anxiety, dyspnea, cool and clammy skin, cyanosis, weak and rapid pulse, cough, lung
congestion (moist, noisy respirations), increased sputum production (sputum may be frothy
and blood tinged), decreased level of consciousness.
, NyHA Classification of HF - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A classification system used to
categorize the severity of heart failure.
ACE Inhibitors - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Medications that cause vasodilation, diuresis,
decrease afterload; monitor for hypotension, hyperkalemia, and altered renal function; may
cause cough.
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Prescribed as an alternate to
ACE inhibitors; work similarly.
Hydralazine and Isosorbide Dinitrate - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Alternative to ACE
inhibitors.
Beta-blockers - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Prescribed in addition to ACE inhibitors; may
take several weeks before effects are seen; use with caution in patients with asthma.
Diuretics - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Medications that decrease fluid volume; monitor
serum electrolytes.
Digitalis - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Improves contractility; monitor for digitalis toxicity
especially if patient is hypokalemic.
IV Medications for HF - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Indicated for hospitalized patients
admitted for acute decompensated HF.
Milrinone - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Decreases preload and afterload; causes hypotension
and increased risk of dysrhythmias.
Dobutamine - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Used for patients with left ventricular
dysfunction; increases cardiac contractility and renal perfusion.
Assessment in Heart Failure - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Congestion and poor
perfusion/low cardiac output.
Considerations ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Heart Failure (HF) - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The inability of the heart to pump sufficient
blood to meet the needs of the tissues for oxygen and nutrients.
Heart Failure Definition - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A syndrome characterized by fluid
overload or inadequate tissue perfusion.
Systolic Failure - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A problem with the contraction of the heart.
Diastolic Failure - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A problem with the filling of the heart.
Renin Angiotensin System - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Restricted blood flow to the
kidneys - reduces GFR- release renin-stimulates Angiotensin I- converts to angiotensin II
(vasoconstrictor)- increased SVR and aldosterone from the adrenal gland- promotes sodium
and water reabsorption- preload increase- heart workload increase.
Clinical Manifestations of Heart Failure - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Right Sided, Left
Sided, Viscera and peripheral congestion, Jugular venous distention (JVD), Dependent
edema, Hepatomegaly, Ascites, Weight gain, Pulmonary congestion, crackles, S3 or
'ventricular gallop', Dyspnea on exertion (DOE), Orthopnea, Dry, nonproductive cough
initially, Oliguria.
Pulmonary Edema - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Acute event in which the LV cannot handle
an overload of blood volume, causing fluid movement out of the pulmonary capillaries and
into the interstitial space of the lungs and alveoli, resulting in hypoxemia.
Clinical Manifestations of Pulmonary Edema - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Restlessness,
anxiety, dyspnea, cool and clammy skin, cyanosis, weak and rapid pulse, cough, lung
congestion (moist, noisy respirations), increased sputum production (sputum may be frothy
and blood tinged), decreased level of consciousness.
, NyHA Classification of HF - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅A classification system used to
categorize the severity of heart failure.
ACE Inhibitors - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Medications that cause vasodilation, diuresis,
decrease afterload; monitor for hypotension, hyperkalemia, and altered renal function; may
cause cough.
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Prescribed as an alternate to
ACE inhibitors; work similarly.
Hydralazine and Isosorbide Dinitrate - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Alternative to ACE
inhibitors.
Beta-blockers - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Prescribed in addition to ACE inhibitors; may
take several weeks before effects are seen; use with caution in patients with asthma.
Diuretics - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Medications that decrease fluid volume; monitor
serum electrolytes.
Digitalis - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Improves contractility; monitor for digitalis toxicity
especially if patient is hypokalemic.
IV Medications for HF - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Indicated for hospitalized patients
admitted for acute decompensated HF.
Milrinone - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Decreases preload and afterload; causes hypotension
and increased risk of dysrhythmias.
Dobutamine - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Used for patients with left ventricular
dysfunction; increases cardiac contractility and renal perfusion.
Assessment in Heart Failure - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Congestion and poor
perfusion/low cardiac output.
