A patient with a history of hypertension arrives in the emergency department with a blood pressure (BP) reading of 213/126 mm Hg. The patient has a history of drug abuse.

Which of the following initial questions posed by the nurse is MOST appropriate?.

After receiving a change-of-shift report about the following four patients on the cardiac care unit, which patient would the nurse assess first?.

Which statement by a patient with restrictive cardiomyopathy indicates that the nurse's discharge teaching about self-management has been effective?

A patient has pain due to acute pericarditis. Which action would the nurse take?.

A nurse is supervising a new graduate who is providing discharge teaching to a patient diagnosed with hypertension.

While teaching a patient about their newly prescribed diuretic (furosemide), which of the following statements made by the new graduate requires correction by the supervising nurse?.

The nurse is caring for a patient with mitral regurgitation. Where would the nurse listen to best hear a murmur typical of mitral regurgitation?.

A nurse is caring for an adolescent in an emergency department.

Vital Signs.

2300: Medical History.

Blood pressure 120/78 mm Hg. Apical pulse rate 100/min.

Respiratory rate 20/min.

2400: Temperature 37.9° C (100.2° F). Oxygen saturation 98% on room air.

Nurses' Notes.

Blood pressure 112/64 mm Hg. Apical pulse rate 108/min.

Respiratory rate 28/min.

Temperature 38.9° C (102° F). Oxygen saturation 95% on room air.

Medical History.

History of rheumatic fever with resulting cardiac valve damage.

Nurses' Notes.

2300: Adolescent brought to emergency department by their parent.

Adolescent reports intermittent low-grade fever and anorexia.

Manifestations presented a few days after having dental work performed.

Now they are worse.

Adolescent noticed shortness of breath with exertion today.

Adolescent in semi-reclining position.

Respirations easy and unlabored while at rest.

Mild dyspnea observed when adolescent ambulated to the room.

Lung sounds clear bilaterally.

Oral mucous membranes pink with petechiae noted.

Adolescent reports diffuse joint pain as 2 on a scale of 0 to 10. 2400: Adolescent restless and sweating, sitting in high-Fowler's position.

Dyspnea noted at rest.

Adolescent reports pain in mid-chest as dull, aching, and as 2 on a scale of 0 to 10. Few coarse rales auscultated bilaterally.

The nurse reports the 2400 assessment findings to the provider.

Which of the following should the nurse anticipate the provider will prescribe? For each potential provider's prescription, specify if the potential prescription is anticipated or contraindicated for the client.

In preparation for discharge, the nurse teaches a patient with chronic stable angina how to use the prescribed short-acting and long-acting nitrates.

Which patient statement indicates that the teaching has been effective?.

Which data indicates to the nurse that the patient with stable angina is experiencing a side effect of metoprolol?.

Which action by the nurse will determine if therapies ordered for a patient with chronic constrictive pericarditis are effective?

A patient is admitted to the emergency department and diagnosed as having an ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Which question would the nurse ask to determine whether the patient is a candidate for thrombolytic therapy?.