NUR 445 Final Exam Study
What are some assessment findings of an uncomplicated abdominal aortic aneurysm? -
answer abdominal pulsation, ischemia in extremities from thrombus formation,
peripheral pulses weak/absent; often asymptomatic
What are some assessment findings of a dissected abdominal aortic aneurysm? -
answer rapid onset of severe abdominal pain or back pain, pain may migrate with pain
of extension, peripheral neuropathy or paralysis
What are some assessment findings of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm? -
answer sudden onset of severe abdominal, flank, or back pain, described as ripping or
tearing, syncope, hypotension, shock, sudden death
What are some assessment findings of an uncomplicated thoracic aortic aneurysm? -
answer hoarseness, cough, dyspnea, wheezing, neck vein distention, heart failure, lump
in throat sensation, BP difference of >15 between arms, peripheral pulses different
between sides; often asymptomatic
What are some assessment findings of a dissected thoracic aortic aneurysm? -
answerprimary symptom is pain (acute onset of severe chest pain that may radiate to
back); hypertension is common, however people with ascending aortic aneurysm tend
to be normotensive or hypotensive
What are some assessment findings of a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm? -
answerrapid onset of severe chest, back, abdominal, or flank pain, or atypical pain in
trunk; hypotension, hematemesis, hemoptysis
What is cardiac tamponade? - answerlife-threatening condition associated with
excessive mediastinal chest tube drainage, caused by bleeding in the pericardium,
causing an accumulation of intracardiac pressure, which impairs ventricular filling and
decreases CO
What is Beck's triad? - answerelevated right atrial pressure, hypotension, and muffled
heart sounds
What are some signs and symptoms of heart failure? - answerdyspnea, fatigue, limited
exercise tolerance, fluid retention, leading to pulmonary congestion and peripheral
edema
What do heart failure symptoms result from? - answerimpaired ventricular function
, What are some signs and symptoms of low CVP? - answerhypovolemia, poor venous
return, hemorrhage, excess diuresis, drug-induced vasodilation, third-spacing of fluid,
vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration
What conditions are associated with low CVP? - answerhypovolemia, shock, or heart
failure
What is a normal range for CVP/RAP? - answer2-6 mmHg
What is a key finding in a hypertensive urgency? - answerNo target organ damage and
slow BP reduction
What are some signs and symptoms of a hypertensive urgency? - answerheadache,
anxiety, epistaxis, dyspnea; may be asymptomatic
What medications can be given for a hypertensive urgency? - answerclonidine (a2
agonist), captopril (ACE), nifedipine (CCB)
What is the treatment for a hypertensive urgency? - answerfollow up as outpatient,
alleviate pain and anxiety, oral antihypertensives, gradual decrease in BP over 24-48
hrs
What are some signs and symptoms of a hypertensive emergency? - answersevere
headache, neurological deficit, vertigo, N/V, chest pain, based on targeted organ
affected
What is the treatment for a hypertensive emergency? - answeradmit to ICU, administer
IV antihypertensives, treat damaged end-organ, BP reduction goals (reduce MAP by
20% in first half hour, achieve approximate BP of 160/100 within 2-6 hours; exception is
aortic dissection, rapidly reduce systolic BP to less than 100 mmHg)
What medications can be given in a hypertensive emergency? - answeradrenergic
inhibitors (BBs), vasodilators (nitro, nicardipine), diuretics
What is a key finding in a hypertensive emergency? - answerTarget organ damage and
rapid BP reduction
What is the priority assessment of v-tach? - answersynchronized cardioversion,
amiodarone, procainamide if pulse is present; start CPR, defibrillation, epinephrine,
vasopressin, treat possible cause
What are some findings on telemetry that point to v-tach? - answerabsent p waves or
not associated with QRS; looks whacky
What is third degree heart block? - answerthere is no relationship between the atria and
the ventricle
What are some assessment findings of an uncomplicated abdominal aortic aneurysm? -
answer abdominal pulsation, ischemia in extremities from thrombus formation,
peripheral pulses weak/absent; often asymptomatic
What are some assessment findings of a dissected abdominal aortic aneurysm? -
answer rapid onset of severe abdominal pain or back pain, pain may migrate with pain
of extension, peripheral neuropathy or paralysis
What are some assessment findings of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm? -
answer sudden onset of severe abdominal, flank, or back pain, described as ripping or
tearing, syncope, hypotension, shock, sudden death
What are some assessment findings of an uncomplicated thoracic aortic aneurysm? -
answer hoarseness, cough, dyspnea, wheezing, neck vein distention, heart failure, lump
in throat sensation, BP difference of >15 between arms, peripheral pulses different
between sides; often asymptomatic
What are some assessment findings of a dissected thoracic aortic aneurysm? -
answerprimary symptom is pain (acute onset of severe chest pain that may radiate to
back); hypertension is common, however people with ascending aortic aneurysm tend
to be normotensive or hypotensive
What are some assessment findings of a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm? -
answerrapid onset of severe chest, back, abdominal, or flank pain, or atypical pain in
trunk; hypotension, hematemesis, hemoptysis
What is cardiac tamponade? - answerlife-threatening condition associated with
excessive mediastinal chest tube drainage, caused by bleeding in the pericardium,
causing an accumulation of intracardiac pressure, which impairs ventricular filling and
decreases CO
What is Beck's triad? - answerelevated right atrial pressure, hypotension, and muffled
heart sounds
What are some signs and symptoms of heart failure? - answerdyspnea, fatigue, limited
exercise tolerance, fluid retention, leading to pulmonary congestion and peripheral
edema
What do heart failure symptoms result from? - answerimpaired ventricular function
, What are some signs and symptoms of low CVP? - answerhypovolemia, poor venous
return, hemorrhage, excess diuresis, drug-induced vasodilation, third-spacing of fluid,
vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration
What conditions are associated with low CVP? - answerhypovolemia, shock, or heart
failure
What is a normal range for CVP/RAP? - answer2-6 mmHg
What is a key finding in a hypertensive urgency? - answerNo target organ damage and
slow BP reduction
What are some signs and symptoms of a hypertensive urgency? - answerheadache,
anxiety, epistaxis, dyspnea; may be asymptomatic
What medications can be given for a hypertensive urgency? - answerclonidine (a2
agonist), captopril (ACE), nifedipine (CCB)
What is the treatment for a hypertensive urgency? - answerfollow up as outpatient,
alleviate pain and anxiety, oral antihypertensives, gradual decrease in BP over 24-48
hrs
What are some signs and symptoms of a hypertensive emergency? - answersevere
headache, neurological deficit, vertigo, N/V, chest pain, based on targeted organ
affected
What is the treatment for a hypertensive emergency? - answeradmit to ICU, administer
IV antihypertensives, treat damaged end-organ, BP reduction goals (reduce MAP by
20% in first half hour, achieve approximate BP of 160/100 within 2-6 hours; exception is
aortic dissection, rapidly reduce systolic BP to less than 100 mmHg)
What medications can be given in a hypertensive emergency? - answeradrenergic
inhibitors (BBs), vasodilators (nitro, nicardipine), diuretics
What is a key finding in a hypertensive emergency? - answerTarget organ damage and
rapid BP reduction
What is the priority assessment of v-tach? - answersynchronized cardioversion,
amiodarone, procainamide if pulse is present; start CPR, defibrillation, epinephrine,
vasopressin, treat possible cause
What are some findings on telemetry that point to v-tach? - answerabsent p waves or
not associated with QRS; looks whacky
What is third degree heart block? - answerthere is no relationship between the atria and
the ventricle
