The nurse is sitting at the desk watching the telemetry monitors and notes a patient's rhythm suddenly shows asystole. Which action should the nurse take first?

(A) Increase the heat in the client’s room: Increasing the heat in the client’s room is not typically recommended for a client experiencing dyspnea. Heat can sometimes make breathing more difficult, and it does not address the underlying cause of the dyspnea.

(B) Perform nasotracheal suctioning for the client: Nasotracheal suctioning can be used to clear the airway in certain situations, but it is not typically the first-line treatment for dyspnea in a client at the end of life. It can be uncomfortable and distressing for the client.

(C) Place the head of the client’s bed flat: Placing the head of the bed flat can actually make breathing more difficult for a client experiencing dyspnea. It is generally more helpful to elevate the head of the bed to facilitate easier breathing.

(D) Administer an opioid narcotic to the client: This is the most appropriate answer. Opioid narcotics can help to relieve dyspnea in clients at the end of life by reducing anxiety, decreasing the sensation of breathlessness, and improving the client’s overall comfort level. The use of opioids in this context should be carefully monitored to manage potential side effects.

A. "This medication will help maintain a normal heart rhythm":

Warfarin is not typically used to maintain a normal heart rhythm in atrial fibrillation. It is primarily used for stroke prevention by anticoagulation.

B. "Warfarin helps prevent strokes in clients who have atrial fibrillation":

This statement is accurate. Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that is commonly prescribed for clients with atrial fibrillation to reduce the risk of stroke by preventing blood clots from forming in the heart and traveling to the brain.

C. "Warfarin dissolves clots in the bloodstream":

Warfarin does not directly dissolve clots in the bloodstream. It works by inhibiting the production of clotting factors in the liver, thereby preventing the formation of new clots and reducing the risk of clot-related complications such as stroke.

D. "This medication slows the response of the ventricles to the fast atrial impulses":

This statement refers more to medications used for rate control in atrial fibrillation rather than warfarin. Warfarin does not directly affect the heart rate or the response of the ventricles to atrial impulses.