ATI RN
Cardiovascular System Exam
1. The client is on amiodarone. What is the most important side effect to monitor for?
- A. Pulmonary toxicity
- B. Thyroid dysfunction
- C. Liver toxicity
- D. Renal dysfunction
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pulmonary toxicity. Amiodarone is known for causing serious pulmonary toxicity, which can be fatal. Monitoring for pulmonary toxicity is crucial due to its potential severity. Choice B, thyroid dysfunction, is a common side effect of amiodarone but is not as immediately life-threatening as pulmonary toxicity. Choices C and D, liver toxicity and renal dysfunction, are potential side effects of amiodarone but are not as critical or as common as pulmonary toxicity, making them less important to monitor initially.
2. What test measures the oxygen level in the blood, often used to monitor patients with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions?
- A. Pulse oximetry
- B. Arterial blood gas (ABG)
- C. Echocardiogram
- D. Chest X-ray
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A, Pulse oximetry. Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive test that measures the oxygen saturation level in the blood, commonly used to monitor respiratory and cardiovascular health. Arterial blood gas (ABG) measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, providing more detailed information than pulse oximetry. Echocardiogram is an ultrasound test used to visualize the heart's structure and function, while a chest X-ray is used to visualize the structures in the chest, such as the heart, lungs, and bones.
3. What is the condition where the lungs become filled with fluid, often due to heart failure, making it difficult to breathe?
- A. Pulmonary edema
- B. Pleural effusion
- C. Pulmonary hypertension
- D. Pneumothorax
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Pulmonary edema is the correct answer. It occurs when fluid fills the lungs, usually due to heart failure, leading to breathing difficulties. Pleural effusion is the accumulation of fluid around the lungs, not inside. Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, and pneumothorax is the presence of air between the lung and chest wall.
4. The client is on spironolactone (Aldactone). What is the most important dietary instruction?
- A. Avoid foods high in potassium.
- B. Increase intake of foods high in potassium.
- C. Avoid foods high in sodium.
- D. Increase intake of foods high in sodium.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to avoid foods high in potassium. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning it helps the body retain potassium and can lead to hyperkalemia if too much potassium is consumed. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because increasing intake of potassium-rich foods can worsen hyperkalemia, while avoiding foods high in sodium is not the primary concern when taking spironolactone.
5. What is a chronic condition where the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs and other parts of the body?
- A. Heart failure
- B. Cardiomyopathy
- C. Pericarditis
- D. Aortic stenosis
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Heart failure is the correct answer. It is a chronic condition characterized by the heart's inability to pump blood efficiently, resulting in symptoms like fluid buildup in the lungs and other parts of the body, shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention. Cardiomyopathy (choice B) refers to diseases of the heart muscle, but it is a broader category that includes various conditions affecting the heart muscle. Pericarditis (choice C) is the inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, and aortic stenosis (choice D) is a condition where the aortic valve narrows, restricting blood flow from the heart.
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