A client tells the nurse that he is concerned because his provider told him he has a heart murmur. The nurse should explain to the client that a murmur
indicates turbulent blood flow through a valve.
is an extra sound due to blood entering an inflexible chamber.
is a high-pitched sound due to a narrow valve.
means that there is some inflammation around the heart.
The Correct Answer is A
A. A heart murmur typically indicates turbulent blood flow through a heart valve. This turbulence can occur due to various reasons, such as valve stenosis (narrowing), regurgitation (leakage), or structural abnormalities of the valves. The turbulent flow produces audible sounds that can be heard with a stethoscope during cardiac auscultation.
B. A heart murmur is not caused by blood entering an inflexible chamber. Instead, it is caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart valves. The sound produced by this turbulent flow may vary depending on the underlying pathology of the valve.
C. While heart murmurs can be described based on their characteristics (such as high-pitched or low- pitched), the presence of a heart murmur does not necessarily indicate a narrow valve. Murmurs can occur due to various valve abnormalities, including stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage). The pitch and quality of the murmur may vary depending on the underlying pathology and the location of the abnormality.
D. A heart murmur is not typically associated with inflammation around the heart. While inflammation of the heart (such as myocarditis or pericarditis) can cause symptoms and abnormal sounds, these conditions would not be described specifically as a "heart murmur."
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Elective cardioversion involves the synchronized delivery of a therapeutic electrical shock to the heart to restore normal sinus rhythm in a patient with a tachyarrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. However, ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a life-threatening arrhythmia characterized by a rapid heart rate originating from the ventricles, and it requires immediate intervention due to the risk of deteriorating into ventricular fibrillation (VF) and cardiac arrest. Therefore, elective cardioversion is not appropriate for treating VT.
B. Defibrillation involves the unsynchronized delivery of a high-energy electrical shock to the heart to terminate life-threatening arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT). In the case of a conscious patient with pulse-sustaining ventricular tachycardia, immediate defibrillation may not be necessary. However, if the patient deteriorates into pulseless VT or VF, prompt defibrillation is required to restore normal cardiac rhythm and circulation.
C. Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a procedure performed in a cardiac catheterization lab to treat certain cardiac arrhythmias by delivering radiofrequency energy to the specific area of the heart responsible for the abnormal rhythm. While radiofrequency catheter ablation may be considered for certain types of sustained ventricular tachycardia that are refractory to medical therapy or deemed to be originating from a specific site in the heart, it is not the immediate intervention for hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia.
D. CPR is an emergency procedure performed on individuals experiencing cardiac arrest or a life- threatening medical emergency. In the case of ventricular tachycardia (VT) with a pulse, the patient is still perfusing, and CPR is not indicated. However, if the patient deteriorates into pulseless VT or ventricular fibrillation (VF), CPR may be initiated along with immediate defibrillation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
B. Checking the left hand for pallor can help assess peripheral perfusion and determine if there is adequate blood flow distal to the arterial line insertion site. Pallor in the left hand could indicate decreased perfusion, which may contribute to the low-pressure alarm.
A. Re-zeroing the monitoring equipment may be necessary to ensure accurate pressure readings. However, it should not be the first action taken when the low-pressure alarm sounds. Before re-zeroing, the nurse should assess the patient's condition to ensure there are no immediate issues affecting arterial pressure.
C. Fast flushing the arterial line is not typically the first action to take when the low-pressure alarm sounds. Fast flushing may increase the risk of dislodging the catheter or causing air embolism if there is a problem with the line.
D. Assessing for dysrhythmias should be part of the overall assessment but may not be the first action taken in response to the alarm.
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