The Heart
I am the actual muscle of the heart.
What is myocardium?
A radiology study that may be one of the first diagnostic studies to detect heart failure.
What is a chest xray?
Furosemide is often a first line treatment for heart failure. What is the specific drug classification of this medication?
What is a loop diuretic?
They say this is always good.
What is oxygen?
A nursing diagnosis associated with fluid retention and/or edema.
What is excess fluid volume?
When cholesterol and fatty deposits build up in the heart’s arteries, less blood can reach the heart muscle.
What is atherosclerosis?
To “make” up for the loss in pumping capacity, the heart beats faster.
What is increased heart rate?
A measurement expressed as a percentage, of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction.
What is ejection fraction?
I am known as the "Gatekeeper".
What is the AV node?
What is BNP (brain natriuretic peptide)?
A common side effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.
What is a dry cough?
When the heart is working hard and is in distress, it is necessary to allow the patient periods of ______ during ADLs.
What is rest?
Due to congestion within the pulmonary system, this nursing diagnosis would be appropriate for a patient with heart failure.
What is impaired gas exchange?
When pressure in the blood vessels is too high, the heart must pump harder than normal to keep the blood circulating.
What is hypertension?
Alterations in certain substances in the blood such as sodium and oxygen cause this.
What is confusion?
An ultrasound that aids in the measurement of a patients ejection fraction.
What is an echocardiogram?
These supply the heart muscle with blood rich in oxygen and nutrients.
What are coronary arteries?
The recording of the electrical activity of the heart.
What is an ECG/EKG?
This class of drugs not only decreases the heart rate, but also decreases blood pressure.
What is a beta blocker?
When administering diuretics, it is our responsibility to monitor labs. What electrolyte may need to be replaced if the patient begins to display multifocal PVCs or if the lab result is <3.5?
What is potassium?
Patients with heart failure often have a difficult time catching their breath, walking a short distance, and performing ADLs. What nursing diagnosis would fit this assessment?
What is Activity Intolerance?
The denial of oxygen and nutrients damages the heart’s muscle-part of it essentially “dies”.
What is a past myocardial infarction?
When the digestive system receives less blood causing problems with digestion it can cause this.
What is a decreased appetite or nausea?
A normal heart’s ejection fraction may be between these percentages.
What is 50 and 70 percent.
The initial stretching of the ventricles.
What is preload?
This diagnostic test determines how your heart works under periods of physical activity.
What is a stress test?
This inotropic drug comes from the Foxtail plant. It slows the heart rate, and increases the contractility of the heart muscle.
What is digoxin (Lanoxin)?
Patients are usually taught how to use this tool.
What is the heart failure zone tool?
Patients are instructed to weigh themselves daily first thing in the morning, and how to use the Heart Failure Zone Tool. Which nursing diagnosis would this address?
When the lungs don’t work properly, the heart has to work harder to get available oxygen to the rest of the body.
What is severe lung disease?
The heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the needs of body tissues. This leads to blood being to diverted to vital organs. The patients muscles is lacking blood and oxygen leadin to this.
What is tiredness or fatigue?
Diastolic heart failure is also referred to as.
What is preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)
The volume of blood pumped by the heart in one minute.
What is Cardiac Output (CO)?
This diagnostic exam uses ultrasound to examine images of the heart chambers and valves to determine any abnormalities and the ejection fraction.
What is an echocardiogram?
This class of drug may be given if the underlying cause of the heart failure is atrial fibrillation.
What is an anti-dysrhythmic drug?
If a patient has an EF < 15% with severe left ventricular hypertrophy, the patient may need this during the acute phase of an exacerbation of heart failure or until a transplantable heart is available.
What is a LVAD?
Often times it is very difficult for both the patient and the family during these times. Which nursing diagnosis would be beneficial to use to address this assessment?
What is ineffective coping?
Pauses in breathing that is potentially life-threatening and is a risk factor for hypertension, CHF, stroke, and diabetes.
What is sleep apnea?
As blood flow out of the heart slows, blood returning to the heart through the veins backs up, causing fluid to build up in the tissues. The kidneys are less able to dispose of sodium and water, causing fluid retention in the tissues.
What is edema?
Reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is also referred to as.
What is systolic heart failure?