The nurse is performing an initial assessment of a client diagnosed with HF. The nurse also assesses the patient's sensorium and LOC. Why is the assessment of the patient's sensorium and LOC important in patients with HF?
A) HF ultimately affects oxygen transportation to the brain.
B) Patients with HF are susceptible to overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.
C) Decreased LOC causes an exacerbation of the signs and symptoms of HF.
D) The most significant adverse effect of medications used for HF treatment is altered LOC.
Ans: A
Feedback:
As the volume of blood ejected by the heart decreases, so does the amount of oxygen transported to the brain. Sympathetic stimulation is not a primary concern in patients with HF, although it is a possibility. HF affects LOC but the reverse is not usually true. Medications used to treat HF carry many adverse effects, but the most common and significant effects are cardiovascular.
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