A client is admitted to the hospital with suspected rheumatic endocarditis. Which of the following laboratory tests would assist in confirming the diagnosis?
Liver enzymes
Serum albumin
Throat culture
Arterial blood gases
The Correct Answer is C
Title: Choice A reason: Liver enzymes Liver enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions in your body. They include alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). High levels of liver enzymes in the blood can indicate liver disease. However, rheumatic endocarditis is a heart condition, not a liver condition. Therefore, while liver enzymes are important for diagnosing liver conditions, they would not assist in confirming a diagnosis of rheumatic endocarditis.
Title: Choice B reason: Serum albumin Serum albumin is a type of protein that your liver and kidneys produce to help your body maintain fluid balance and function. Low or high albumin levels can indicate liver disease, kidney disease, or nutritional deficiency. However, rheumatic endocarditis is a heart condition, not a liver or kidney condition. Therefore, while serum albumin is important for diagnosing liver and kidney conditions, it would not assist in confirming a diagnosis of rheumatic endocarditis.
Title: Choice C reason: Throat culture A throat culture is a lab test used to find and identify germs in the back of your mouth that are making you sick. It can diagnose infections like strep throat, gonorrhea, thrush, diphtheria, and pertussis. Rheumatic endocarditis is often caused by a streptococcal infection, which can be identified through a throat culture. Therefore, a throat culture would assist in confirming a diagnosis of rheumatic endocarditis.
Title: Choice D reason: Arterial blood gases An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood as well as the pH balance in your blood. It helps diagnose and monitor conditions that affect your respiratory, circulatory, and metabolic systems. However, rheumatic endocarditis is a heart condition that is often caused by a bacterial infection. Therefore, while an ABG test is important for diagnosing conditions that affect your respiratory, circulatory, and metabolic systems, it would not assist in confirming a diagnosis of rheumatic endocarditis.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["35"]
Explanation
- Step 1: Identify the total volume to be administered. The nurse is scheduled to administer 840 mL of enteral nutrition over a 24-hour period.
- Step 2: Identify the total time over which the volume is to be administered. The total time is 24 hours.
- Step 3: Calculate the rate at which the infusion pump should be set. We can do this by dividing the total volume by the total time:
- Rate = Total Volume ÷ Total Time.
- Rate = 840 mL ÷ 24 hours.
- Calculating the division gives us: Rate = 35 mL/hr.
set the infusion pump to deliver 35 mL/hr.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Myocardial infarction (MI) is not limited to occurrences with exertion. While stable angina typically occurs during physical activity or emotional stress, MI can happen at any time, even at rest. The underlying cause of an MI is the complete blockage of blood supply to a part of the heart muscle, usually due to a blood clot in a coronary artery. This blockage can lead to the death of heart muscle tissue, a condition that requires immediate medical attention.
Choice B reason: Stable angina does not typically last for more than 30 minutes. It is characterized by chest pain or discomfort that occurs predictably with exertion or emotional stress and is relieved within minutes by rest or nitroglycerin. In contrast, the pain from an MI is more prolonged and severe, and it is not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. If chest discomfort lasts longer than 15 minutes and is not alleviated by rest or nitroglycerin, it is a warning sign that the individual may be experiencing an MI.
Choice C reason: This is the distinguishing feature between stable angina and an MI. Stable angina is usually relieved within 3-5 minutes by rest or nitroglycerin, which helps to dilate the coronary arteries and improve blood flow to the heart muscle. Nitroglycerin is ineffective in relieving the symptoms of an MI because the problem is not just reduced blood flow but a complete blockage that nitroglycerin cannot overcome.
Choice D reason: The pain associated with an MI typically lasts for more than 15 minutes and can be quite severe. Unlike stable angina, the pain of an MI is not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. The duration and severity of the pain, along with other symptoms such as shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness, help differentiate an MI from stable angina.
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