2025
A nurse caring for a client who has a history of angina and is scheduled for exercise electrocardiography
at 1100. Which of the following statements by the client requires the nurse to contact the provider for
possible rescheduling?
- "I'm still hungry after the bowl of cereal I ate at 7 a.m."
- "I didn't take my heart pills this morning because the doctor told me not to."
- "I have had chest pain a couple of times since I saw my doctor in the office last week."
- "I smoked a cigarette this morning to calm my nerves about having this procedure." - Answers - "I
smoked a cigarette this morning to calm my nerves about having this procedure."
Rationale: Smoking prior to this test can change the outcome and places the client at additional risk. The
procedure should be rescheduled if the client has smoked before the test.
RATIONALES:
"I'm still hungry after the bowl of cereal I ate at 7 a.m.":
- It is not necessary for the client to be NPO prior to this procedure.
"I didn't take my heart pills this morning because the doctor told me not to."
- The provider might withhold cardiovascular medications prior to this procedure to effectively monitor
cardiovascular response to stress.
"I have had chest pain a couple of times since I saw my doctor in the office last week."
- Episodes of chest pain are not a contraindication to this test.
,A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has heart failure. The nurse should instruct the
client to report which of the following findings immediately to the provider?
- Weight gain of 0.9 kg (2 lb) in 24 hr
- Increase of 10 mmHg in systolic blood pressure
- Dyspnea with exertion
- Dizziness when rising quickly - Answers - Weight gain of 0.9 kg (2 lb) in 24 hr
Rationale: When using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the nurse should determine
that the priority finding is a weight gain of 0.5 to 0.9 kg (1.1 to 2 lb) in 1 day. The weight gain is an
indication of fluid retention resulting from worsening heart failure. The client should report this finding
immediately.
RATIONALES:
Increase of 10 mmHg in systolic blood pressure
-An increase of 10 mmHg in systolic blood pressure is a nonurgent finding. Although the client should
report the increase in blood pressure, there is another finding the client should report immediately.
Dyspnea with exertion
- Dyspnea with exertion is a nonurgent finding that is expected for a client who has heart failure.
Although the client should report it, there is another finding the client should report immediately.
Dizziness when rising quickly
- Dizziness when rising quickly is a nonurgent finding that is expected for a client who is taking
medications to treat heart failure. Although the client should report it, there is another finding the client
should report immediately.
, A nurse is assessing a client who has a history of deep-vein thrombosis and is receiving warfarin. Which
of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the medication is effective?
- Hemoglobin 14 g/dL
- Minimal bruising of extremities
- Decreased blood pressure
- INR 2.0 - Answers - INR 2.0
Rationale: The nurse should identify that an INR of 2.0 is within the desired reference range of 2.0 to 3.0
for a client who has deep-vein thrombosis and is receiving warfarin to reduce the risk of new clot
formation and a stroke.
RATIONALES:
Hemoglobin 14 g/dL
- The nurse should recognize that a hemoglobin level of 14 g/dL is within the expected reference range.
However, this is not evidence of effective warfarin therapy.
Minimal bruising of extremities
- The nurse should recognize that minimal bruising or no bruising is desired. However, this is not
evidence of effective warfarin therapy.
Decreased blood pressure
- The nurse should recognize that decreased blood pressure is a manifestation of bleeding, which is an
adverse effect of warfarin.