this is a procedure used to remove excess fluid or air from the pleural space helping to relieve pressure on the lungs
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Nursing Elites

ATI RN

Physical Exam Cardiovascular System

1. Which procedure is used to remove excess fluid or air from the pleural space, helping to relieve pressure on the lungs?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is Thoracentesis. Thoracentesis is a procedure specifically designed to remove excess fluid or air from the pleural space in the chest. This process helps to relieve pressure on the lungs and improve breathing. Bronchoscopy (Choice B) is a procedure used to visualize the airways and diagnose lung conditions, not to remove fluid from the pleural space. Chest X-ray (Choice C) is an imaging test that provides a picture of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and bones. Arterial blood gas (ABG) test (Choice D) is a blood test that measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, providing information about how well the lungs are working, but it does not involve removing excess fluid or air from the pleural space.

2. From where do these originate, behind the cusps of the aortic valve, in an area known as Valsalva’s sinus?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Aortic valve. The aortic valve is a semilunar valve located between the left ventricle and the aorta. It prevents the backflow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle. The pulmonary valve (choice A) is located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, not in the Valsalva’s sinus area. The tricuspid valve (choice C) is situated between the right atrium and right ventricle, and the mitral valve (choice D) is located between the left atrium and left ventricle, making them incorrect choices for this question.

3. The nurse is administering digoxin to a client with a heart rate of 45 bpm. What is the nurse’s priority action?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to hold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider. A heart rate of 45 bpm is already low, and digoxin can further decrease the heart rate, leading to serious complications like bradycardia or heart block. Administering the medication can exacerbate the bradycardia, hence it should be withheld. Increasing the dose of digoxin is contraindicated due to the client's low heart rate. Monitoring the heart rate alone without taking immediate action to withhold the medication is not the priority when faced with the risk of further lowering the heart rate.

4. The client on enoxaparin (Lovenox) is scheduled for surgery. What is the nurse’s priority action?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Hold the enoxaparin and notify the healthcare provider. Enoxaparin, being an anticoagulant, should be held before surgery to reduce the risk of excessive bleeding during the procedure. It is crucial to inform the healthcare provider to determine the appropriate management plan. Choice B is incorrect because administering enoxaparin before surgery can increase the risk of bleeding. Choice C is incorrect as vitamin K administration is not typically indicated in this situation. Choice D is incorrect because monitoring the client's INR and proceeding with surgery without addressing the enoxaparin can lead to significant bleeding complications.

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?

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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