Rhythm Nation
A patient with SVT is speaking with BP 124/72. Which intervention would the nurse anticipate first?
What are vagal maneuvers?
This fluid imbalance may occur after prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive sweating causing tachycardia.
What is fluid volume deficit?
A patient arrives with crushing chest pain. This cardiac biomarker should be obtained on arrival and trended every 3 hours.
What is troponin?
These symptoms suggest left-sided heart failure.
What are dyspnea, orthopnea, or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea?
This inflammatory heart disorder is associated with a recent dental procedure, fever, and a new murmur.
What is infective endocarditis?
A patient in AFib becomes hypotensive and confused. Which intervention is anticipated?
What is synchronized cardioversion?
A patient with a sodium level of 118 mEq/L becomes increasingly confused. What complication is the nurse most concerned about?
What are seizures?
A patient's ECG shows ST-segment elevation. The goal timeframe for PCI is:
What is within 90 minutes?
These assessment findings are commonly associated with right-sided heart failure.
What are JVD, peripheral edema, ascites, or hepatomegaly?
Chest pain that improves when sitting up and leaning forward is characteristic of this disorder.
What is pericarditis?
A patient with a permanent pacemaker reports dizziness. The monitor shows pacer spikes without QRS complexes. What pacemaker problem is occurring?
What is failure to capture?
A patient taking furosemide reports muscle weakness and develops frequent PVCs. What electrolyte imbalance should the nurse suspect?
What is hypokalemia?
A patient experiencing ACS may not report chest pain. Name two atypical symptoms.
What are nausea, vomiting, indigestion, epigastric pain, weakness, fatigue, dyspnea, or a feeling of impending doom?
This diagnostic test helps distinguish HFrEF (reduced) from HFpEF (preserved).
What is an echocardiogram?
This inflammatory heart disorder often follows a viral infection and may present with heart failure symptoms.
What is myocarditis?
A nurse observes ventricular fibrillation on the monitor. What is the immediate intervention?
What is CPR?
Immediate vs Priority—CPR first, defibrillation priority treatment.
A patient with chronic alcoholism develops ventricular dysrhythmias. What electrolyte imbalance is the likely cause?
What is hypomagnesemia?
Before PCI, the nurse should assess for this allergy because it may affect the procedure.
What is contrast dye, iodine, and/or shellfish?
A patient with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) receives IV furosemide. Which finding best indicates the medication is working?
What is increased urine output?
Acceptable: weight loss, decreased dyspnea, improved oxygenation.
This valvular disorder produces a low-pitched rumbling diastolic murmur with an opening snap heard best at the apex.
What is mitral stenosis?
A patient with pulseless VT receives defibrillation. Which outcome indicates successful treatment?
What is return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)?
A patient has: pH 7.29, PaCO₂ 52, HCO₃ 24. The ECG shows peaked T waves. How are these findings related?
What is respiratory acidosis possibly contributing to hyperkalemia?
A patient with a right ventricular wall MI presents with hypotension. What is the expected treatment?
What is ASA, morphine, and oxygen if hypoxic?
Nitroglycerin will worsen hypotension and is contraindicated in right vent MIs.
This life-threatening complication of left-sided heart failure causes fluid to leak into the alveoli and cause pink, frothy sputum.
What is pulmonary edema?
This valvular disorder produces a harsh systolic murmur that radiates to the carotid arteries.
What is aortic stenosis?