Heart Failure
Which side of heart failure is most commonly associated with pulmonary congestion and crackles?
Left-sided heart failure.
Which valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle?
Mitral valve
Which medication is a cardiac glycoside used in selected patients with heart failure?
Digoxin
What neck-vein finding is commonly associated with right-sided HF?
Jugular venous distention (JVD)
A patient suddenly develops severe respiratory distress and an SpO₂ of 84%. What body system should the nurse prioritize using ABCs?
Breathing/oxygenation.
What term describes the amount of ventricular filling/stretch before contraction?
Preload
A patient has exertional dyspnea, angina, and syncope. Which valvular disorder should you suspect?
Aortic stenosis
What medication class helps reduce excess fluid volume in patients with heart failure?
Diuretics
What term describes difficulty breathing while lying flat?
Orthopnea
What life-threatening condition is associated with pink-frothy sputum?
Pulmonary edema
Name three findings commonly associated with right-sided heart failure.
Any three: JVD, dependent edema, ascites, hepatomegaly, or fluid-related weight gain.
Which valve disorder can produce a bounding pulse and widened pulse pressure?
Aortic regurgitation
A patient taking digoxin develops nausea, anorexia, weakness, visual changes, and a new dysrhythmia. What should the nurse suspect?
Digoxin toxicity
Sharp chest pain that worsens when lying flat but improves when sitting up and leaning forward suggests what condition?
Pericarditis
What laboratory marker can become elevated in heart failure because of increased ventricular wall stress?
BNP
A patient has a high-pitched blowing holosystolic murmur heard best at the apex and radiating toward the axilla. What valve disorder is most likely?
Mitral regurgitation.
What medication is used for severe or potentially life-threatening digoxin toxicity?
Digoxin immune Fab.
Fever, a new or changing murmur, petechiae, and splinter hemorrhages suggest what cardiac condition?
Infective endocarditis.
A patient with infective endocarditis suddenly develops facial droop, unilateral weakness, and slurred speech. What complication should the nurse suspect?
An embolic stroke
A patient with HF suddenly develops severe dyspnea, SpO₂ 82%, diffuse crackles, anxiety, and frothy sputum. What complication should the nurse suspect?
Acute pulmonary edema.
A patient with mitral stenosis develops palpitations and an irregularly irregular rhythm. Which dysrhythmia is a common complication?
Atrial fibrillation.
Name the heart-failure medication class that combines neprilysin inhibition with angiotensin-receptor blockade.
ARNI.
Example: Sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto).
A young athlete experiences exertional syncope and palpitations and has a family history of sudden cardiac death. Which cardiac disorder should raise concern?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
A patient with pericarditis suddenly develops BP 78/46, HR 128, JVD, muffled heart sounds, and worsening dyspnea. What is the priority nursing response?
Recognize suspected cardiac tamponade as an emergency, activate rapid/emergency response, support ABCs/oxygenation and perfusion, continuously monitor the patient, and prepare for urgent pericardial drainage/pericardiocentesis.