ATI RN
Physical Exam Cardiovascular System
1. A client on a beta blocker has a heart rate of 52 bpm. What is the nurse’s priority action?
- A. Hold the beta blocker and notify the healthcare provider.
- B. Administer the beta blocker as ordered.
- C. Increase the dose of the beta blocker.
- D. Continue to monitor the client and reassess in 30 minutes.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is to hold the beta blocker and notify the healthcare provider. A heart rate of 52 bpm is low, and beta blockers can further decrease the heart rate, potentially causing harm. Therefore, withholding the medication and promptly informing the healthcare provider is crucial for further assessment and possible adjustment of the treatment plan. Administering the beta blocker as ordered (Choice B) can exacerbate the bradycardia. Increasing the dose of the beta blocker (Choice C) would further suppress the heart rate. Continuing to monitor the client and reassessing in 30 minutes (Choice D) might delay necessary interventions and increase the risk of complications in a client with a heart rate of 52 bpm.
2. Which test uses sound waves to create images of the heart, allowing doctors to assess its structure and function?
- A. Echocardiogram
- B. MRI
- C. CT scan
- D. X-ray
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Echocardiogram. An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart, enabling doctors to assess its structure and function. This imaging technique is particularly useful in detecting abnormalities such as valve disease. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because MRI, CT scans, and X-rays use different imaging technologies that do not rely on sound waves to visualize the heart.
3. Which of the following is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that causes episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing?
- A. Asthma
- B. Bronchitis
- C. Pneumonia
- D. Emphysema
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Asthma is the correct answer. It is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. These symptoms are often triggered by allergens or exercise. Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, but it is not typically chronic or involve the same triggers as asthma. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, and emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often caused by smoking.
4. What is the condition where the lung collapses due to air leaking into the space between the lung and chest wall?
- A. Pneumothorax
- B. Pleural effusion
- C. Pulmonary fibrosis
- D. Lung cancer
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Pneumothorax is the correct answer. It is the collapse of a lung due to air leaking into the space between the lung and chest wall. This condition often requires emergency treatment. Choice B, Pleural effusion, is the buildup of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lung, not air. Choice C, Pulmonary fibrosis, is a lung disease characterized by scarring and thickening of lung tissue, not related to lung collapse. Choice D, Lung cancer, is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lung, not directly causing lung collapse.
5. What is a chronic condition where the airways in the lungs become damaged and widened, leading to mucus buildup and frequent infections?
- A. Bronchiectasis
- B. Chronic bronchitis
- C. Pneumoconiosis
- D. Asthma
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Bronchiectasis is a chronic condition characterized by the damage and widening of the airways in the lungs, resulting in mucus accumulation and recurrent lung infections. Choice B, chronic bronchitis, involves inflammation of the bronchial tubes and excessive mucus production but does not specifically mention airway damage and widening. Choice C, pneumoconiosis, refers to lung diseases caused by inhalation of mineral dust particles, not airway damage and mucus buildup. Choice D, asthma, is a chronic condition characterized by airway inflammation and narrowing, leading to breathing difficulties, but it does not involve the widening and damage of the airways as seen in bronchiectasis.
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