the client is on furosemide lasix and has a potassium level of 29 meql what is the nurses priority action
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Cardiovascular System Exam Questions Pdf

1. The client is on furosemide (Lasix) and has a potassium level of 2.9 mEq/L. What is the nurse’s priority action?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Administer potassium supplements. A potassium level of 2.9 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia (low potassium levels). Furosemide (Lasix) is a loop diuretic that can cause potassium loss. Therefore, the priority action is to administer potassium supplements to correct the imbalance. Option B is incorrect because holding the furosemide without addressing the low potassium level could further worsen the imbalance. Option C is incorrect as continuing the current dose of furosemide without addressing the low potassium level could lead to complications. Option D is incorrect because decreasing the dose of furosemide does not directly address the low potassium level that needs immediate correction.

2. Which of the following is a central vasoconstrictor and peripheral vasodilator?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Epinephrine. Epinephrine acts as a central vasoconstrictor and peripheral vasodilator. It increases heart rate and blood flow to muscles, helping to prepare the body for a 'fight or flight' response. Parasympathetic nervous system (choice A) does not cause vasoconstriction but rather vasodilation. The sympathetic nervous system (choice B) is primarily responsible for the fight or flight response, causing vasoconstriction. Dopamine (choice C) primarily acts as a neurotransmitter and hormone, not directly causing central vasoconstriction and peripheral vasodilation.

3. What procedure involves inserting a flexible tube with a light and camera into the airways to examine the lungs and collect samples?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Bronchoscopy. Bronchoscopy is a procedure that entails inserting a flexible tube with a light and camera into the airways to examine the lungs and collect tissue or fluid samples. This procedure is commonly performed to diagnose lung conditions such as infections, tumors, or obstructions. Choice B, thoracentesis, involves inserting a needle into the pleural space to remove fluid for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes related to the lungs or pleura, not the airways. Choice C, lung biopsy, typically involves obtaining tissue samples from the lungs for further examination, not directly visualizing the airways. Choice D, chest X-ray, is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses radiation to create images of the chest area, providing a different type of information compared to bronchoscopy.

4. What is a condition where the heart is unable to relax properly between beats, reducing its ability to fill with blood?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Diastolic heart failure. In diastolic heart failure, the heart is unable to relax properly between beats, leading to a reduced ability to fill with blood. This condition primarily affects the heart's filling function rather than its pumping function, which is characteristic of systolic heart failure (choice B). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (choice C) involves the abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, while restrictive cardiomyopathy (choice D) is characterized by the heart muscle becoming stiff and less compliant. Therefore, choices B, C, and D are incorrect in the context of a heart condition where relaxation between beats is impaired.

5. What is a condition where the airways become swollen and produce extra mucus, making it difficult to breathe, often associated with COPD?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Chronic bronchitis is the correct answer. It is a long-term inflammation of the bronchi, leading to persistent cough and mucus production, commonly associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pneumonia (Choice B) is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. Emphysema (Choice C) is a lung condition where the air sacs in the lungs are damaged, making it difficult to breathe. Tuberculosis (Choice D) is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs.

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