After the nurse has finished teaching a patient about the use of sublingual nitroglycerin (Nitrostat), which patient statement indicates that the teaching has been effective?

I will call an ambulance if I still have pain after taking 3 nitroglycerin 5 minutes apart.

Which statement made by a patient with coronary artery disease after the nurse has completed teaching about therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) diet indicates that further teaching is needed?

I will miss being able to eat peanut butter sandwiches.

After the nurse teaches the patient about the use of carvedilol (Coreg) in preventing anginal episodes, which statement by a patient indicates that the teaching has been effective?

It is important not to suddenly stop taking the carvedilol.

A patient who has had chest pain for several hours is admitted with a diagnosis of rule out acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Which laboratory test should the nurse monitor to help determine whether the patient has had an AMI?

Cardiac-specific troponin

Diltiazem (Cardizem) is ordered for a patient with newly diagnosed Prinzmetals (variant) angina. When teaching the patient, the nurse will include the information that diltiazem will

decrease spasm of the coronary arteries.

The nurse will suspect that the patient with stable angina is experiencing a side effect of the prescribed metoprolol (Lopressor) if the

blood pressure is 90/54 mm Hg.

Nadolol (Corgard) is prescribed for a patient with chronic stable angina and left ventricular dysfunction. To determine whether the drug is effective, the nurse will monitor for

the ability to do daily activities without chest pain.

Heparin is ordered for a patient with a nonST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). What is the purpose of the heparin?

Heparin prevents the development of new clots in the coronary arteries.

When titrating IV nitroglycerin (Tridil) for a patient with a myocardial infarction (MI), which action will the nurse take to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication?

Ask about chest pain.

A patient with ST-segment elevation in three contiguous electrocardiographic (ECG) leads is admitted to the emergency department (ED) and diagnosed as having an ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Which question should the nurse ask to determine whether the patient is a candidate for thrombolytic therapy?

What time did your chest pain begin?

Following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a patient ambulates in the hospital hallway. When the nurse is evaluating the patients response to the activity, which assessment data would indicate that the exercise level should be decreased?

Heart rate increases from 66 to 92 beats/minute.

During the administration of the thrombolytic agent to a patient with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the nurse should stop the drug infusion if the patient experiences

a decrease in level of consciousness.

. A patient is recovering from a myocardial infarction (MI) and develops chest pain on day 3 that increases when taking a deep breath and is relieved by leaning forward. Which action should the nurse take next?

Auscultate for a pericardial friction rub.

In preparation for discharge, the nurse teaches a patient with chronic stable angina how to use the prescribed short-acting and long-acting nitrates. Which patient statement indicates that the teaching has been effective?

I will stop what I am doing and sit down before I put the nitroglycerin under my tongue.

. Three days after experiencing a myocardial infarction (MI), a patient who is scheduled for discharge asks for assistance with hygiene activities, saying, I am too nervous to take care of myself. Based on this information, which nursing diagnosis is appropriate?

Ineffective coping related to anxiety

When caring for a patient who is recovering from a sudden cardiac death (SCD) event and has no evidence of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the nurse will anticipate teaching the patient that

additional diagnostic testing will be required.

A few days after experiencing a myocardial infarction (MI) and successful percutaneous coronary intervention, the patient states, I just had a little chest pain. As soon as I get out of here, Im going for my vacation as planned. Which reply would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?

What do you think caused your chest pain?

When evaluating the effectiveness of preoperative teaching with a patient scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery using the internal mammary artery, the nurse determines that additional teaching is needed when the patient says which of the following?

I will have small incisions in my leg where they will remove the vein.

A patient who is recovering from an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) asks the nurse about when sexual intercourse can be resumed. Which response by the nurse is best?

Sexual activity uses about as much energy as climbing two flights of stairs.

A patient with hyperlipidemia has a new order for colesevelam (Welchol). Which nursing action is mostappropriate when giving the medication?

Give the patients other medications 2 hours after the colesevelam.

The nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted to the coronary care unit following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention the previous day. Teaching for this patient would include

when cardiac rehabilitation will begin.

A patient who has recently started taking pravastatin (Pravachol) and niacin (Nicobid) reports the following symptoms to the nurse. Which is most important to communicate to the health care provider?

Generalized muscle aches and pains

A patient who is being admitted to the emergency department with intermittent chest pain gives the following list of medications to the nurse. Which medication has the most immediate implications for the patients care?

Sildenafil (Viagra)

Which assessment finding by the nurse caring for a patient who has had coronary artery bypass grafting using a right radial artery graft is most important to communicate to the health care provider?

Pallor and weakness of the right hand

. When caring for a patient who has just arrived on the medical-surgical unit after having cardiac catheterization, which nursing intervention should the nurse delegate to a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?

Give the scheduled aspirin and lipid-lowering medication.

Which electrocardiographic (ECG) change is most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider when caring for a patient with chest pain?

ST-segment elevation

When caring for a patient with acute coronary syndrome who has returned to the coronary care unit after having angioplasty with stent placement, the nurse obtains the following assessment data. Which data indicate the need for immediate action by the nurse?

Chest pain level 7 on a 0 to 10 point scale

A patient admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) with an ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is restless and anxious. The blood pressure is 86/40 and heart rate is 123. Based on this information, which nursing diagnosis is a priority for the patient?

Stress overload related to acute change in health

When admitting a patient with a nonST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) to the intensive care unit, which action should the nurse perform first?

Attach the cardiac monitor.

Which information about a patient who has been receiving thrombolytic therapy for an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider?

No change in the patients chest pain

The nurse obtains the following data when assessing a patient who experienced an ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) 2 days previously. Which information is most important to report to the health care provider?

Bilateral crackles are auscultated in the mid-lower lobes.

A patient had a nonST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) 3 days ago. Which nursing intervention included in the plan of care is most appropriate for the registered nurse (RN) to delegate to an experienced licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)?

Reinforcement of teaching about the purpose of prescribed medications

A patient who has chest pain is admitted to the emergency department (ED) and all of the following are ordered. Which one should the nurse arrange to be completed first?

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

After receiving change-of-shift report about the following four patients, which patient should the nurse assessfirst?

59-year-old with unstable angina who has just returned to the unit after having a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

To improve the physical activity level for a mildly obese 71-year-old patient, which action should the nurse plan to take?

Determine what kind of physical activities the patient usually enjoys.

Which patient at the cardiovascular clinic requires the most immediate action by the nurse?

Patient with stable angina whose chest pain has recently increased in frequency

. A patient with diabetes mellitus and chronic stable angina has a new order for captopril (Capoten). The nurse should teach the patient that the primary purpose of captopril is to

prevent changes in heart muscle.

After reviewing information shown in the accompanying figure from the medical records of a 43-year-old, which risk factor modification for coronary artery disease should the nurse include in patient teaching?

Dietary changes to improve lipid levels

After reviewing a patients history, vital signs, physical assessment, and laboratory data, which information shown in the accompanying figure is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider?

Tachypnea and crackles in lungs