What response should the nurse give when a patient with heart failure asks what the physician meant by saying his left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was destination therapy?
A) "Your LVAD will support your heart until a heart is available for transplant."
B) "Your LVAD will support your heart because you are not a candidate for heart transplant."
C) "Your LVAD will allow your heart to rest and recover."
D) "Your LVAD takes the place of your heart."
B) "Your LVAD will support your heart because you are not a candidate for heart transplant."
Explanation: A) LVADs are implanted pumps that support the heart, draining blood from the left ventricle and pumping it into the ascending aorta. Bridge-to-transplant LVAD recipients have their LVAD in place until a suitable heart donor is identified, at which time they receive cardiac transplantation.
B) LVADs are implanted pumps that support the heart, draining blood from the left ventricle and pumping it into the ascending aorta. Patients who receive destination therapy LVADs are not candidates for heart transplant and will likely have the LVAD until their death.
C) LVADs are implanted pumps that support the heart, draining blood from the left ventricle and pumping it into the ascending aorta. LVADs can be used as destination therapy or as a bridge to transplant. Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart will not recover.
D) LVADs are implanted pumps that support the heart, draining blood from the left ventricle and pumping it into the ascending aorta. An LVAD does not take over the heart's function.
You might also like to view...
When caring for patients with chronic illness, the nurse needs to:
a. help the patient face the reality that he will not get better. b. emphasize to the patient that the illness is not his fault. c. emphasize improving quality of life through preventive behaviors. d. acknowledge the limitations placed on the patient by his suffering.
An antagonist for narcotics must be readily available at delivery because
a. all clients receiving narcotics within 2 hours of delivery are given the antagonist b. narcotics can potentially cause hypotension in the mother c. narcotics can potentially depress the new-born's respiratory system d. narcotics cannot be metabolized in the newborn's system
The nurse will add a special caution to patient teaching for a patient with HIV infection who has a _____ for a house pet
a. dog b. cat c. bird d. gerbil
A patient is receiving preoperative teaching. Which information should the nurse provide?
1. Teaching regarding the call lights and bed controls for the medical-surgical unit 2. Teaching regarding pain control in the postanesthesia recovery room (PACU) 3. Teaching regarding patient medications upon discharge 4. Teaching regarding the type of IV pump the patient will have after discharge to home health