The nurse administers atenolol 50 mg PO bid to a client who has coronary artery disease. The nurse understands that the therapeutic effect of this medication for this client is to:

Choice A reason: A history of cardiac disease is not directly related to enlarged axillary lymph nodes. Cardiac disease may affect the heart, blood vessels, and circulation, but not the lymphatic system. ¹

Choice B reason: A recent infection is a possible cause of enlarged axillary lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are part of the immune system and they swell when they are fighting an infection. ² The nurse should ask the client about any signs or symptoms of infection, such as fever, sore throat, or skin rash.

Choice C reason: Shortness of breath is not directly related to enlarged axillary lymph nodes. Shortness of breath may indicate a respiratory problem, such as asthma, bronchitis, or pneumonia. ³ However, these conditions do not usually affect the lymph nodes in the armpit area.

Choice D reason: Surgery on the neck is not directly related to enlarged axillary lymph nodes. Surgery on the neck may affect the lymph nodes in the neck or the collarbone area, but not the lymph nodes in the armpit area. The nurse should ask the client about any history of surgery or trauma to the lymph nodes or the surrounding tissues.

Choice A reason: This is not a correct statement. Meat and eggs mostly contain saturated fats, which are fats that have no double bonds between the carbon atoms. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and can raise the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol is also known as the "bad" cholesterol because it can deposit on the walls of the arteries and cause atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. The client should limit the intake of saturated fats to less than 10% of the total calories per day.

Choice B reason: This is not a correct statement. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, which is a fat that has no double bonds between the carbon atoms. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and can raise the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol is also known as the "bad" cholesterol because it can deposit on the walls of the arteries and cause atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. The client should avoid or limit the use of coconut oil and other sources of saturated fats.

Choice C reason: This is the correct statement. Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat, which is a fat that has one double bond between the carbon atoms. Monounsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and can lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol is also known as the "bad" cholesterol because it can deposit on the walls of the arteries and cause atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. The client should use olive oil and other sources of monounsaturated fats instead of saturated fats.

Choice D reason: This is not a correct statement. Butter is high in saturated fats, which are fats that have no double bonds between the carbon atoms. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and can raise the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol is also known as the "bad" cholesterol because it can deposit on the walls of the arteries and cause atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. The client should avoid or limit the intake of butter and other sources of saturated fats.