The nurse is caring for patients on a cardiac unit. Which patient should the nurse assess first?
1. patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who is reporting dyspnea
2. patient who had a cardiac catheterization and will be ambulating for the first time
3. patient receiving antibiotics for bacterial endocarditis who is reporting anxiety and chest pain
4. patient recovering from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery with a temperature of 101°F.
Correct Answer: 3
The patient with bacterial endocarditis is at risk for thrombus formation. This patient requires immediate attention as chest pain and anxiety are signs of pulmonary embolism (PE), which is life-threatening. Dyspnea is a chronic symptom with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which requires assessment; a temperature of 101°F requires further assessment; and the patient ambulating for the first time will be assessed by a nurse. However, the patient with a possible PE is the most emergent.
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