Nursing Elites

1. The client on furosemide (Lasix) has a potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L. What is the nurse’s priority action?

• A. Administer a potassium supplement.
• B. Hold the furosemide and notify the healthcare provider.
• C. Continue the current dose of furosemide.
• D. Administer Digibind.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to administer a potassium supplement. A potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia, which can lead to serious complications like cardiac dysrhythmias. Therefore, the priority action is to address the low potassium level by administering a potassium supplement. Holding the furosemide (Choice B) may be necessary in the long term to prevent further potassium loss, but the immediate need is to correct the low potassium level. Continuing the current dose of furosemide (Choice C) without addressing the low potassium level can worsen hypokalemia. Administering Digibind (Choice D) is not indicated for low potassium levels; Digibind is used to treat digoxin toxicity.

2. This heart condition is characterized by decreased cardiac output and tissue perfusion, which can lead to organ failure.

• A. Cardiogenic shock
• B. Myocardial infarction
• C. Endocarditis
• D. Pericarditis

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cardiogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock is a severe condition characterized by the heart's inability to pump enough blood, leading to decreased cardiac output and tissue perfusion, which can result in organ failure. Choice B, Myocardial infarction, specifically refers to a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. Choices C and D, Endocarditis and Pericarditis, do not directly involve decreased cardiac output leading to organ failure, making them incorrect in the context of the symptoms described in the question.

3. What test uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart, allowing doctors to see how well the heart is functioning?

• A. Echocardiogram
• B. MRI
• C. CT scan
• D. X-ray

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is an echocardiogram. This test utilizes sound waves to generate images of the heart, enabling doctors to evaluate both the function and structure of the heart. Choice B, MRI, uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body's organs and structures, not specifically focused on the heart. Choice C, CT scan, employs X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body, not primarily for the heart. Choice D, X-ray, uses electromagnetic radiation to produce images of internal structures, but it does not provide the detailed pictures of the heart's function that an echocardiogram does.

4. What is a chronic condition where the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs and other parts of the body?

• A. Heart failure
• B. Myocardial infarction
• C. Pericarditis
• D. Pulmonary edema

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Heart failure. Heart failure is a chronic condition characterized by the heart's inability to pump blood effectively, resulting in fluid accumulation in the lungs and other body tissues. Myocardial infarction (choice B) refers to a heart attack caused by a blocked coronary artery, leading to damage of heart muscle tissue. Pericarditis (choice C) is the inflammation of the pericardium, the protective sac around the heart. Pulmonary edema (choice D) is a condition where fluid builds up in the lungs, often as a result of heart failure.

5. What is the ability of cardiac cells to generate an electrical impulse without being stimulated by an external source?

• A. Automaticity
• B. Contractility
• C. Conductivity
• D. Refractoriness

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Automaticity is the correct answer because it refers to the inherent ability of cardiac cells to generate electrical impulses without the need for external stimulation. Contractility (Choice B) is the ability of the heart muscle to contract and generate force, not related to electrical impulse generation. Conductivity (Choice C) refers to the ability of cardiac cells to transmit electrical impulses from cell to cell, not the spontaneous generation of impulses. Refractoriness (Choice D) is the period during which the cardiac cells are recovering and not able to respond to a new stimulus, not the spontaneous generation of impulses.

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