After noting a pulse deficit when assessing a 74-year-old patient who has just arrived in the emergency department, the nurse will anticipate that the patient may require
a. emergent cardioversion.
b. a cardiac catheterization.
c. hourly blood pressure (BP) checks.
d. electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring.
ANS: D
Pulse deficit is a difference between simultaneously obtained apical and radial pulses. It indicates that there may be a cardiac dysrhythmia that would best be detected with ECG monitoring. Fre-quent BP monitoring, cardiac catheterization, and emergent cardioversion are used for diagnosis and/or treatment of cardiovascular disorders but would not be as helpful in determining the im-mediate reason for the pulse deficit.
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