A client with severe emphysema had a myocardial infarction and is hospitalized on the telemetry unit. The night nurse notices that the client has frequent dysrhythmias. The priority action for the nurse would be to check the client's
a. cardiac enzymes.
b. electrocardiogram.
c. electrolyte values.
d. oxygen saturation.
D
Dysrhythmias are common during sleep in clients with advanced airflow-limiting diseases, espe-cially when the oxygen saturation drops below 60%.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following answers is the best definition of data?
1. Data are a collection of numbers, characters, or facts that are gathered according to some perceived need for analysis and possibly action at a later point in time. 2. Data are the synthesis of information derived from several sources to produce a single concept or idea. 3. The definition of data is knowledge used appropriately to manage and solve problems. 4. The general term data is used to refer to the management and processing of information with the assistance of computers.
The 25-year-old woman who has a mother with breast cancer asks why yearly mammograms are not recommended for younger women. What is the nurse's best response?
A. "Younger women only need to obtain yearly mammograms if they are sexually active." B. "Younger breasts are so dense that mammography is not as accurate in detecting abnormalities." C. "The incidence of breast cancer is so low for younger women that the cost of mammography outweighs its benefits." D. "The chances of pregnancy are increased in younger women and the fetus should not be exposed to the radiation associated with mammography."
To prevent infection of the urinary tract, the nurse should instruct the client to:
a. include soft drinks in the total fluid intake. b. drink grapefruit juice several times a day. c. perform pericare at least twice during a shift. d. increase fluid intake to 2500 to 3000 mL/day.
A client with asthma asks the nurse which type of medication will decrease bronchoconstriction associated with asthma. Which response by the nurse is the most correct?
1. "Bronchodilators." 2. "Corticosteroids." 3. "Expectorants." 4. "Antitussives."