Nursing Elites

1. What is a condition where the heart's ability to pump blood is decreased, leading to fluid buildup in the lungs and other parts of the body?

• A. Heart failure
• B. Cardiomyopathy
• C. Pericarditis
• D. Myocarditis

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, heart failure. Heart failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs and other areas. Choice B, Cardiomyopathy, refers to diseases of the heart muscle. Choices C and D, Pericarditis and Myocarditis, respectively, are conditions involving inflammation of the outer lining of the heart and the heart muscle itself, which may not always directly result in decreased pumping ability like heart failure does.

2. Where is the impulse from the SA node delayed, enabling atrial contraction to complete before the ventricles are stimulated and contract?

• A. AV node
• B. Bundle of His
• C. SA node
• D. Aorta

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is AV node. The AV node is responsible for delaying the impulse from the SA node, allowing the atria to contract before the ventricles. This delay ensures the effective pumping of blood in a coordinated manner. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the Bundle of His is responsible for transmitting the impulse to the Purkinje fibers, the SA node is the pacemaker of the heart responsible for initiating the heartbeat, and the aorta is the main artery carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to the body, respectively, none of which are involved in delaying the impulse to allow atrial contraction before ventricular contraction.

3. When administering furosemide (Lasix) to a client, which lab value is most important to monitor?

• A. Potassium
• B. Sodium
• C. Calcium
• D. Chloride

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When administering furosemide (Lasix), it is crucial to monitor potassium levels closely. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can lead to potassium loss, potentially causing hypokalemia. Monitoring potassium levels helps prevent adverse effects associated with low potassium, such as cardiac arrhythmias. While monitoring sodium, calcium, and chloride levels may also be important in certain situations, potassium is the most critical to monitor when administering furosemide.

4. The client is on digoxin and has severe digoxin toxicity. What is the nursing priority action?

• A. Check the potassium level.
• B. Give Digibind as an antidote.
• C. Change the dosing of digoxin to every other day.
• D. Administer a potassium supplement to decrease digoxin toxicity.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to give Digibind as an antidote in cases of severe digoxin toxicity. Digibind works by binding to digoxin and preventing it from causing further harm. Checking the potassium level (choice A) is important but not the priority when the client has severe toxicity. Changing the dosing to every other day (choice C) is not appropriate in the setting of severe toxicity where immediate action is required. Giving a potassium supplement (choice D) may be needed eventually, but the priority is to administer Digibind to counteract the toxic effects of digoxin.

5. What is the condition where the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, becomes inflamed, leading to chest pain and other symptoms?

• A. Pericarditis
• B. Myocarditis
• C. Endocarditis
• D. Pulmonary hypertension

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Pericarditis is the correct answer. It is the inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, which can lead to chest pain and other symptoms. Myocarditis (choice B) is inflammation of the heart muscle, not the pericardium. Endocarditis (choice C) is inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves, not the pericardium. Pulmonary hypertension (choice D) is high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, not related to pericardial inflammation.

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