A nurse in a cardiac care unit is caring for a client with acute right-sided heart failure. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Increased pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP).

Elevated central venous pressure (CVP).

Decreased brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).

Decreased specific gravity

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Right-sided heart failure is a condition in which the right ventricle fails to pump blood eﬀectively to the lungs, causing a backup of blood in the systemic circulation. This leads to increased pressure in the right atrium and the vena cava, which can be measured by the central venous pressure (CVP). A normal CVP is 2 to 6 mm Hg, but in right-sided heart failure, it can rise above 10 mm Hg. Symptoms of right-sided heart failure include peripheral edema, jugular venous distension, hepatomegaly, ascites, and weight gain.

a. Increased pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP). This statement is incorrect because it describes a finding of left-sided heart failure, not right-sided heart failure. Left-sided heart failure is a condition in which the left ventricle fails to pump blood eﬀectively to the systemic circulation, causing a backup of blood in the pulmonary circulation. This leads to increased pressure in the left atrium and the pulmonary capillaries, which can be measured by the pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP). A normal PAWP is 6 to 12 mm Hg, but in left-sided heart failure, it can rise above 18 mm Hg. Symptoms of left-sided heart failure include dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, crackles in the lungs, and pink frothy sputum.

c. Decreased brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). This statement is incorrect because it describes a finding of normal or reduced cardiac function, not heart failure. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone secreted by the cardiac cells in response to increased stretch and pressure in the ventricles. It acts as a diuretic and a vasodilator, lowering blood volume and blood pressure. BNP is used as a biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring heart failure, as it reﬂects the degree of ventricular dysfunction. A normal BNP level is less than 100 pg/mL, but in heart failure, it can rise above 400 pg/mL.

d. Decreased specific gravity. This statement is incorrect because it describes a finding of dilute urine, not concentrated urine. Specific gravity is a measure of the concentration of solutes in urine, reﬂecting the ability of the kidneys to regulate ﬂuid balance. A normal specific gravity is 1.005 to 1.030, but it can vary depending on ﬂuid intake and output, hydration status, and renal function. In right-sided heart failure, ﬂuid retention and reduced renal perfusion can cause oliguria and increased specific gravity of urine.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The P wave is the first wave on the ECG strip and represents the electrical activity of the atria. It reﬂects the depolarization of the atrial myocardium, which is the process of changing the electrical charge of the cardiac cells from negative to positive, triggering a contraction. The P wave precedes the QRS complex, which represents ventricular depolarization, and the T wave, which represents ventricular repolarization.

The other options are not correct because:

a. Slow repolarization of ventricular Purkinje fibers. This statement is incorrect because it describes the U wave, which is a small and sometimes invisible wave that follows the T wave on the ECG strip. It reﬂects the repolarization of the ventricular Purkinje fibers, which are specialized cardiac cells that conduct electrical impulses to the ventricles. The U wave is more prominent in conditions that cause hypokalemia, such as diuretic use or vomiting.

c. Early ventricular repolarization. This statement is incorrect because it describes the ST segment, which is the ﬂat line between the QRS complex and the T wave on the ECG strip. It reﬂects the early phase of ventricular repolarization, which is the process of restoring the electrical charge of the cardiac cells to negative after a contraction. The ST segment can be elevated or depressed in conditions that cause myocardial ischemia or injury, such as angina or myocardial infarction.

d. Ventricular depolarization. This statement is incorrect because it describes the QRS complex, which is the largest and most visible wave on the ECG strip. It reﬂects the depolarization of the ventricular myocardium, which triggers a ventricular contraction. The QRS complex follows the P wave and precedes the T wave on the ECG strip.

A. "Limit your alcohol consumption to three drinks a day." B. "Plan to lower saturated fats to 10 percent of your daily calorie intake." C. "Diuretics are the first type of medication to control hypertension." D. "Reaching your goal blood pressure will occur within 2 months."

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Planning to lower saturated fats to 10 percent of the daily calorie intake is a good dietary recommendation for a client who has hypertension, as it can help lower cholesterol, prevent atherosclerosis, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.

a. "Limit your alcohol consumption to three drinks a day." is not correct, as it is too high for a client who has hypertension. The client should limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men, as alcohol can increase blood pressure and interfere with medication eﬀectiveness.

c. "Diuretics are the first type of medication to control hypertension." is not accurate, as diuretics are not always the first choice of medication for hypertension. The choice of medication depends on the client's individual factors, such as age, race, comorbidities, and contraindications. Diuretics are one of the classes of antihypertensive drugs that can be used alone or in combination with other drugs.

d. "Reaching your goal blood pressure will occur within 2 months." is not realistic, as reaching the goal blood pressure may take longer than 2 months, depending on the client's baseline blood pressure, response to treatment, adherence to lifestyle modifications, and presence of other conditions. The client should monitor his blood pressure regularly and follow up with the provider as needed.

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A nurse in a cardiac care unit is caring for a client with acute right-sided heart failure. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

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