Flashcards Cardiology 6-10 and 11-15 focused

A patient with heart failure is being monitored in a hospital. The nurse notices a sudden increase in the patient’s daily weight and mild swelling in the ankles. Using strategic reasoning, what should the nurse consider as the most likely cause, and what action should be taken next?

• The patient is experiencing fluid retention; the nurse should notify the healthcare provider and assess for other symptoms of heart failure exacerbation.

• The patient is dehydrated; the nurse should increase fluid intake.

• The patient is experiencing weight loss; the nurse should encourage more food intake.

• The patient is having an allergic reaction; the nurse should administer antihistamines.

A patient is prescribed a cardiovascular medication that must be taken at specific times to maximize its effectiveness. As a healthcare provider, how would you develop a plan to ensure the patient receives the medication correctly, and what factors would you consider in your reasoning?

• Create a medication schedule based on the drug’s pharmacokinetics, educate the patient on timing, and monitor for missed doses.

• Allow the patient to take the medication whenever they remember, as long as the daily dose is met.

• Focus only on the medication’s side effects and ignore timing.

• Advise the patient to stop the medication if they feel better, regardless of timing.

A patient is unsure about the purpose and side effects of their new anticoagulant medication. How would you strategically educate the patient to ensure adherence and safety, and what key points would you emphasize?

• Explain the medication’s purpose, potential side effects, proper administration, and what to do if a dose is missed, while encouraging questions.

• Tell the patient to read the medication leaflet and not to worry about side effects.

• Advise the patient to stop the medication if they experience any discomfort.

• Only discuss the benefits of the medication and avoid mentioning side effects.

A patient asks why they should engage in regular, moderate exercise if they have a cardiovascular condition. Using evidence and reasoning, explain how this recommendation benefits their heart health.

• Regular, moderate exercise strengthens the heart and improves cardiovascular health by enhancing circulation and reducing risk factors.

• Exercise is only recommended for people without any health conditions.

• Physical activity has no impact on heart health.

• Only intense exercise can benefit the cardiovascular system.

A patient who smokes and is overweight is at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Strategically plan an educational intervention that addresses both smoking cessation and weight management, and explain why both are crucial for reducing cardiovascular risk.

• Both smoking cessation and weight management reduce cardiovascular risk factors, improving overall heart health and decreasing the likelihood of complications.

• Only weight management is important for cardiovascular health.

• Smoking cessation is unrelated to heart disease risk.

• Addressing both factors is unnecessary if the patient is taking medication.

When planning care for a patient recovering from a myocardial infarction, what evidence-based strategies would you use to address both their psychological and physical rehabilitation needs?

• Address anxiety, depression, and stress, and refer the patient to support groups or cardiac rehabilitation programs.

• Focus only on medication adherence and ignore emotional well-being.

• Recommend complete isolation to avoid stress.

• Suggest the patient avoid all physical activity.

A hospital is developing a new protocol for managing patients with cardiovascular diseases. As part of the team, you are asked to justify the inclusion of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in the protocol. Using reasoning and evidence, explain why APRNs, particularly Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) and Nurse Practitioners (NP) in cardiology, should play a significant role in diagnosing, treating, and managing cardiovascular diseases.

• APRNs have no specialized training in cardiovascular care.

• APRNs are primarily responsible for administrative tasks only.

• APRNs, especially CNS and NP in cardiology, have advanced training that enables them to diagnose, treat, and manage cardiovascular diseases effectively.

• APRNs only provide basic patient care and do not participate in disease management.

A patient presents with symptoms suggestive of peripheral vascular disease. As an APRN, outline a strategic plan for a detailed cardiovascular assessment, including the reasoning behind each step you would take.

• Only perform a visual inspection of the patient’s legs.

• Conduct auscultation for cardiac murmurs, assess for peripheral vascular disease, and evaluate cardiac functional capacity to gather comprehensive evidence for diagnosis and management.

• Refer the patient immediately to a physician without any assessment.

• Prescribe medication without any physical examination.

A patient presents with symptoms suggestive of cardiac injury. As an APRN, you are tasked with determining the most appropriate diagnostic approach. Which combination of tests would you strategically select and interpret to provide a comprehensive assessment, and what evidence would guide your choices?

• ECGs, echocardiograms, stress tests, and lab tests including lipid profiles and markers of cardiac injury, because these collectively assess electrical, structural, functional, and biochemical aspects of the heart.

• Only ECGs and stress tests, because they are the fastest to perform.

• Only lipid profiles, because cholesterol is the main concern in cardiac injury.

• Only echocardiograms, because they show the heart’s structure.

You are managing a patient with hypertension who is not responding well to their current cardiovascular medication. As an APRN with prescribing authority, how would you strategically approach adjusting the patient’s medication regimen, and what factors would you consider in your reasoning?

• Adjust the dosage based on patient response, considering collaborative agreements or acting independently, and monitor for efficacy and side effects.

• Double the medication dose immediately without further assessment.

• Discontinue all medications and refer the patient to another provider.

• Prescribe a non-cardiovascular medication to see if symptoms improve.