A patient with a history rheumatic heart disease knows that she is at risk for bacterial endocarditis when undergoing invasive procedures. Prior to a scheduled cystoscopy, the nurse should ensure that the patient knows the importance of taking which of the following drugs? A)Enoxaparin (Lovenox) B)Metoprolol (Lopressor) C)Azathioprine (Imuran) D)Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
D)Amoxicillin (Amoxil) Although rare, bacterial endocarditis may be life-threatening. A key strategy is primary prevention in high-risk patients (i.e., those with rheumatic heart disease, mitral valve prolapse, or prosthetic heart valves). Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for high-risk patients immediately before and sometimes after certain procedures. Amoxicillin is the drug of choice. None of the other listed drugs is an antibiotic.
A patient is admitted to the critical care unit (CCU) with a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. When reviewing the patient's most recent laboratory results, the nurse should prioritize assessment of which of the following? A)Sodium B)AST, ALT, and bilirubin C)White blood cell differential D)BUN
A)Sodium Sodium is the major electrolyte involved with cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy often leads to heart failure which develops, in part, from fluid overload. Fluid overload is often associated with elevated sodium levels. Consequently, sodium levels are followed more closely than other important laboratory values, including BUN, leukocytes, and liver function tests.
What are the normal blood gas lab ranges for the following?
pH
paCO2
HCO3
Must get all correct for points
pH 7.35 -7.45
paCo2 45-35
HCO3 22-26
A nurse is caring for a patient who has a lab finding of serum potassium (K+) of 5.4 mEq/L. The nurse should assess for which of the following clinical manifestations? • EKG changes • Constipation • Polyuria • Hypotension
What are EKG changes. (peaked T waves) •Other symptoms of hyperkalemia: fatigue, weakness, N/V, chest pain, palpitations •Constipation, polyuria and hypotension are clinical manifestations of hypokalemia
name the acid base disturbance
pH 7.50
paCO2 47
HCO3 27
What is metabolic alkalosis
partially compensated
What intervention may a patient have done to attempt/correct a rapid Atrial Fibrillation? Select all that apply (must have all to be correct) • An AICD/ICD • Cardioversion • Diltiazem (Cardizem) IV • A cardiac ablation
What is cardioversion, diltiazem (cardizem) IV and a cardiac ablation •Cardioversion is a synchronized defibrillation that restarts the cardiac cylcle diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker used to reduced the strength of the muscles cell contraction. •A cardiac ablation destroys the electrical pathways in the AV node. Patients will also need a pacemaker placed when this is done. An AICD/ICD is used to treat ventricular dysrhythmias
A patient with a longstanding diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder presents to the emergency room. The triage nurse notes upon assessment that the patient is hyperventilating. The triage nurse is aware that hyperventilation is the most common cause of which acid–base imbalance? A)Respiratory acidosis B)Respiratory alkalosis C)Increased PaCO2 D)CNS disturbances
B)Respiratory alkalosis The most common cause of acute respiratory alkalosis is hyperventilation. Extreme anxiety can lead to hyperventilation. Acute respiratory acidosis occurs in emergency situations, such as pulmonary edema, and is exhibited by hypoventilation and decreased PaCO2. CNS disturbances are found in extreme hyponatremia and fluid overload. If you increase your respiratory rate (hyperventilation) you "blow off" CO2 (acid) therefore decreasing your CO2 acid—giving you ALKLAOSIS If you decrease your respiratory rate (hypoventilation) you retain CO2 (acid) therefore increasing your CO2 (acid)—giving you ACIDOSIS
A patient in the ICU has developed acute disseminated intravascular coagulation. When reviewing the patient’s laboratory results, the healthcare provider will expect which of the following results? Select all that apply. • Reduced prothrombin time (PT) • Elevated fibrin degradation products • Reduced plasma Factor VIII • Normal activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) • Reduced platelet count
What is elevated fibrin degradation products, reduced plasma Factor VIII and reduced platelet count. •There is widespread formation of fibrin clots in the medium and small vessels throughout the body in disseminated intravascular coagulation. •Because of the increased clotting, platelets and coagulation factors are rapidly depleted. Both the PT and aPTT will be prolonged. •There will also be increased fibrinolysis throughout the body as the many clots are dissolved, resulting in elevated fibrin degradation products.
Daily Double!!!!!!!!
Name this acid/base disturbance
pH 7.43
CO2 28
HCO3 18
What is respiratory alkalosis
fully compensated
DAILY DOUBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Identify this dysrhythmia...

What is a VT or Ventricular Tachycardia
A nurse educator is reviewing expected findings in a patient who has right-sided valvular heart disease with a group of nurses. Which of the following should be included in the discussion? (Select all that apply - need all to be correct) • Dyspnea • Patient report of fatigue • Bradycardia • Pleural friction rub • Peripheral edema
What is dyspnea, fatigue, peripheral edema •a normal or rapid pulse and irregular rhythm would be a sign of left sided valvular disease •A pleural friction rub is a symptom of pleurisy or pna
Why is sodium important in the treatment of DKA? (Think about the process that hyperglycemia causes in the cells)
What is... •Hyperglycemia causes osmotic diuresis of water, electrolytes and ketones. •Na and K+ are lost via urine. •Serum Na+ may drop from loss of Na+ via urine OR, may rise due to excretion of large volumes of water. •Once insulin therapy is started, the serum K+ typically falls as it drives K+ into the cells. •Life threatening hypokalemia can occur! •Na+ and K+ serum levels are volatile in DKA.
You are an emergency-room nurse caring for a trauma patient. Your patient has the following arterial blood gas results: pH 7.47, PaCO2 33, HCO3 23 mEq/L. How would you interpret these results?
respiratory alkalosis
uncompensated
TestValueNormalsAnalysis pH:7.477.35-7.45Alkalotic (high): Overall state is (still) an alkalosis PaCO2:33 mmHg35-45 mmHgAlkalotic (low): CO2 tension is low (respiratory alkalosis) [HCO3-]:23 mEq/L22-26 mEq/LNormal: HCO3- concentration is normal The pH and CO2 levels are both alkalotic, so the primary mechanism is a respiratory alkalosis. The HCO3- is normal, so there is no indication of metabolic compensation.