Which of the following is a critical aspect to monitor in a patient immediately following a heart catheterization?
Observe for signs of infection at the catheter insertion site
Monitor the patient's cardiac rhythm and vital signs closely
Check the patient's blood glucose levels frequently.
Assess the patient's dietary intake and fluid balance.
The Correct Answer is B
Rationale:
A. While infection monitoring is important, the risk immediately post-procedure is low; infection typically develops later, not immediately.
B. Immediately following a heart catheterization, there is a risk of arrhythmias, bleeding, or hemodynamic instability, making continuous monitoring of cardiac rhythm and vital signs critical to detect complications early.
C. Routine glucose monitoring is not specifically indicated unless the patient has diabetes; it is not a priority related to the catheterization procedure.
D. While ongoing hydration and diet are part of overall care, they are not immediate priorities in the immediate post-catheterization period.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Rationale:
A. PT measures the extrinsic and common coagulation pathways, which are affected by warfarin therapy. Warfarin inhibits vitamin K–dependent clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X), prolonging PT. Nurses also often monitor the international normalized ratio (INR), which standardizes PT results to guide therapeutic dosing. For clients with an artificial heart valve, the therapeutic INR range is usually 2.5–3.5.
B. aPTT measures the intrinsic coagulation pathway and is primarily used to monitor heparin therapy, not warfarin. It does not reflect the anticoagulant effect of warfarin.
C. Hemoglobin measures the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and can indicate anemia, but it does not provide information about coagulation or warfarin effectiveness.
D. Bleeding time evaluates platelet function, not the effect of anticoagulants like warfarin. Warfarin primarily affects clotting factor synthesis, not platelet function.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. A barrel chest is typically associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to chronic hyperinflation of the lungs, not mitral valve stenosis.
B. Clubbing occurs in chronic hypoxia conditions such as congenital heart defects or long-term lung disease. It is not a primary feature of mitral stenosis.
C. Mitral stenosis does not typically cause bradycardia. Some clients may develop atrial fibrillation, which usually causes irregularly rapid heart rates, not slowed heart rate.
D. Mitral valve stenosis narrows the mitral valve, causing turbulent blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle during diastole. This produces a diastolic murmur, often heard best at the apex with the client in the left lateral position.
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