Lippincott Cardiac Health Problems Practice Questions with correct answers

A client returns from a left heart catheterization. The right groin was used for catheter access. In which location should the nurse palpate the distal pulse on this client? 1. anterior to the right tibia 2. dorsal surface of the right foot 3. posterior to the right knee 4. right midinguinal area - Answer 2. To best monitor that the client's circulation remains intact, the dorsal surface of the right foot should be palpated. When the left side of the heart is catheterized, the cannula enters via an artery. In this instance, the right femoral artery was accessed. While all options assess arterial points of the right leg, the dorsal surface of the right foot (the pedal pulse) is the most distal. If this pulse point is present and unchanged from before the procedure, the other pulse points should also be intact. A client is admitted with chest pain and kept overnight for stress testing the next morning. Prior to sending the client to the stress test, the nurse reviews the results of the laboratory reports. The nurse should report which elevated laboratory value to the healthcare provider (HCP) prior to the stress test? 1. cholesterol level 2. erythrocyte sedimentation rate 3. prothrombin time 4. troponin - Answer 4. The elevated troponin level should be reported to the HCP prior to the stress test as this change indicates myocardial damage. Sending the client to walk on a treadmill for stress testing would be contraindicated with evidence of recent myocardial injury and could further extend the damage. The other blood levels are helpful but not critical to this client's welfare at this point in time.