NURS 6201 Exam 2 Content: Heart Failure and
Dysrhythmias questions with verified answers
A client has developed atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 150
beats per minute. A nurse assesses the client for:
A. Hypotension and dizziness
B. Nausea and vomiting
C. Hypertension and headache
D. Flat neck veins Ans✓✓✓ A. Hypotension and dizziness
Reasoning: Hypotension and dizziness are common signs and symptoms
of reduced CO, which is a common problem with Atrial fibrillation
A nurse is caring for a patient with suspected heart failure d/t
prolonged hypertension. She notices that the provider has ordered a
chest x-ray.
Is this a useful diagnostic test for heart failure?
If the patient has heart failure, what would we expect to see and why?
Ans✓✓✓ Chest X-rays are useful diagnostic tests for heart failure. We
may be able to see an enlargement of the heart (hypertrophy).
We might also see fluid in the lungs if this is left-sided heart failure.
A nurse is educating a patient placed on Lasix and Digoxin to manage
their HF symptoms. What teaching might the nurse give the patient to
reduce their risk for serious adverse effects? Ans✓✓✓ 1. Eat
potassium-rich foods such as bananas, avocados, and coconut water.
,2. Contact your provider if you are experiencing muscle
cramps/spasms, extreme fatigue, and/or numbness and tingling (s/s of
hypokalemia)
3. Contact your provider if you experience nausea, vomiting, and vision
changes such as chromatopsias (s/s of digoxin toxicity)
A nurse is educating a patient with newly diagnosed heart failure on
daily weights. What recommendations should the nurse make to the
patient regarding daily weights? Ans✓✓✓ The patient should weigh
themselves at the same time each day, wearing the same clothes if
possible. Morning is usually the best time for patients to weigh
themselves.
A nurse is teaching a patient on potential adverse effects of beta-
blockers for the treatment of heart failure. Which of the following
points should the nurse include? (Select all that apply)
A. Worsening of HF symptoms
B. Fatigue
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypotension Ans✓✓✓ A-D are correct. These are all potential
adverse effects of beta-blocker therapy. Recall that beta-blockers block
SNS stimulation of the heart. This reduces HR and contractility, which
may actually worsen symptoms of HF if the patient is fluid overloaded.
For D, just remember that practically all chronic HF drugs cause
hypotension.
, A patient is 4 hours post-operative after a femoral cardiac
catheterization. When you enter the patient's room, they tell you that
they feel like they need to poop. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Assess the patient's mental status.
B. Assist the patient to semi-Fowler's position.
C. Help the patient ambulate to the bathroom.
D. Check the patient's lumbar area for ecchymosis. Ans✓✓✓ D. Check
the patient's lumbar area for ecchymosis.
Patients who are post-op from femoral catheterization should have no
need to poop. If they feel the urge to defecate, it's a sign of a
retroperitoneal bleed. In this case, you should check the patient's back
for ecchymosis.
If you suspect a retroperitoneal bleed, call the physician.
A patient is scheduled to received cardioversion for treatment of atrial
fibrillation which has been present for longer than 24 hours.
Which diagnostic test should be performed before cardioversion?
Why? Ans✓✓✓ A TEE (TransEsophageal Echocardiogram) should be
performed prior to cardioversion for any patient who has been in afib
for >24 hrs.
The reason is that clots formed during afib may be ejected into
circulation after rhythm correction during cardioversion. This
dramatically increases the risk for stroke, MI, and other complications.
The TEE will allow us to see any clots.
Dysrhythmias questions with verified answers
A client has developed atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 150
beats per minute. A nurse assesses the client for:
A. Hypotension and dizziness
B. Nausea and vomiting
C. Hypertension and headache
D. Flat neck veins Ans✓✓✓ A. Hypotension and dizziness
Reasoning: Hypotension and dizziness are common signs and symptoms
of reduced CO, which is a common problem with Atrial fibrillation
A nurse is caring for a patient with suspected heart failure d/t
prolonged hypertension. She notices that the provider has ordered a
chest x-ray.
Is this a useful diagnostic test for heart failure?
If the patient has heart failure, what would we expect to see and why?
Ans✓✓✓ Chest X-rays are useful diagnostic tests for heart failure. We
may be able to see an enlargement of the heart (hypertrophy).
We might also see fluid in the lungs if this is left-sided heart failure.
A nurse is educating a patient placed on Lasix and Digoxin to manage
their HF symptoms. What teaching might the nurse give the patient to
reduce their risk for serious adverse effects? Ans✓✓✓ 1. Eat
potassium-rich foods such as bananas, avocados, and coconut water.
,2. Contact your provider if you are experiencing muscle
cramps/spasms, extreme fatigue, and/or numbness and tingling (s/s of
hypokalemia)
3. Contact your provider if you experience nausea, vomiting, and vision
changes such as chromatopsias (s/s of digoxin toxicity)
A nurse is educating a patient with newly diagnosed heart failure on
daily weights. What recommendations should the nurse make to the
patient regarding daily weights? Ans✓✓✓ The patient should weigh
themselves at the same time each day, wearing the same clothes if
possible. Morning is usually the best time for patients to weigh
themselves.
A nurse is teaching a patient on potential adverse effects of beta-
blockers for the treatment of heart failure. Which of the following
points should the nurse include? (Select all that apply)
A. Worsening of HF symptoms
B. Fatigue
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypotension Ans✓✓✓ A-D are correct. These are all potential
adverse effects of beta-blocker therapy. Recall that beta-blockers block
SNS stimulation of the heart. This reduces HR and contractility, which
may actually worsen symptoms of HF if the patient is fluid overloaded.
For D, just remember that practically all chronic HF drugs cause
hypotension.
, A patient is 4 hours post-operative after a femoral cardiac
catheterization. When you enter the patient's room, they tell you that
they feel like they need to poop. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Assess the patient's mental status.
B. Assist the patient to semi-Fowler's position.
C. Help the patient ambulate to the bathroom.
D. Check the patient's lumbar area for ecchymosis. Ans✓✓✓ D. Check
the patient's lumbar area for ecchymosis.
Patients who are post-op from femoral catheterization should have no
need to poop. If they feel the urge to defecate, it's a sign of a
retroperitoneal bleed. In this case, you should check the patient's back
for ecchymosis.
If you suspect a retroperitoneal bleed, call the physician.
A patient is scheduled to received cardioversion for treatment of atrial
fibrillation which has been present for longer than 24 hours.
Which diagnostic test should be performed before cardioversion?
Why? Ans✓✓✓ A TEE (TransEsophageal Echocardiogram) should be
performed prior to cardioversion for any patient who has been in afib
for >24 hrs.
The reason is that clots formed during afib may be ejected into
circulation after rhythm correction during cardioversion. This
dramatically increases the risk for stroke, MI, and other complications.
The TEE will allow us to see any clots.
