A patient with coronary artery disease (CAD) is admitted to the medical unit for testing.
The patient reports frequent episodes of angina over the past few days and is currently experiencing shortness of breath, nausea, and chest pressure.
After obtaining the patient’s vital signs, what should be the nurse’s next course of action?
Count and record the number of premature ventricular contractions per minute.
Apply oxygen via nasal cannula and adjust to maintain oxygen saturation above 93%.
Ensure troponin level assessments are scheduled every 3 to 6 hours for a series of three.
Initiate dim lighting, lower alarm volumes, and control traffic in and out of the room area.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Counting and recording the number of premature ventricular contractions per minute is not the immediate priority for a patient experiencing symptoms of angina and shortness of breath. While it is important to monitor the patient’s heart rhythm, the immediate priority is to address the patient’s symptoms and stabilize their condition.
Choice B rationale
Applying oxygen via a nasal cannula and adjusting to maintain oxygen saturation above 93% is the immediate priority for a patient experiencing symptoms of angina and shortness of breath. Oxygen therapy can help to relieve the symptoms of angina and improve the patient’s oxygen saturation.
Choice C rationale
Ensuring troponin level assessments are scheduled every 3 to 6 hours for a series of three is important for diagnosing a heart attack, but it is not the immediate priority. The immediate priority is to address the patient’s symptoms and stabilize their condition.
Choice D rationale
Initiating dim lighting, lowering alarm volumes, and controlling traffic in and out of the room area can help to create a calm and quiet environment for the patient. However, this is not the immediate priority. The immediate priority is to address the patient’s symptoms and stabilize their condition.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D","E","F"]
Explanation
The assessment findings that require immediate follow up by the nurse are: The client has mild subcostal retractions. This could indicate that she is using accessory muscles to breathe, which is a sign of respiratory distress. The client is sitting in an upright position. This is a common position for people who are having difficulty breathing because it allows for maximum expansion of the lungs. Wheezes are noted throughout the lung fields. Wheezing can be a sign of an obstructive process such as asthma. The client is pale. Paleness can be a sign of decreased oxygenation. Her heart rate is 122 beats/minute, which is above the normal range and can indicate that her body is working harder to get oxygen. Her oxygen saturation is 91% on room air. Normal oxygen saturation is generally 95% or higher, so this could indicate that she is not getting enough oxygen.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
While monitoring the respiratory rate is important in a patient receiving opioids like hydromorphone, it does not directly indicate whether the patient is receiving an equianalgesic dose of the medication.
Choice B rationale
Pain scale assessment is the most direct way to evaluate if the patient is receiving an equianalgesic dose of hydromorphone. Equianalgesic refers to a dose of one opioid that would provide the same level of pain relief as a given dose of another opioid. If the patient’s pain is well-controlled, it suggests that the dose of hydromorphone is equianalgesic to the dose of the previous opioid.
Choice C rationale
Monitoring blood pressure is important in a patient receiving opioids as these medications can cause hypotension. However, blood pressure does not directly indicate whether the patient is receiving an equianalgesic dose of hydromorphone.
Choice D rationale
While it’s important to monitor the level of consciousness in a patient receiving opioids as these medications can cause sedation, it does not directly indicate whether the patient is receiving an equianalgesic dose of hydromorphone.
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