A patient with a history of rapid heart rate tells the nurse, "I hold my breath and bear down when I feel my heart is beating too fast.". Which nursing intervention might be indicated for this patient?
1. Ask the health care provider to prescribe a stool softener.
2. Restrict fluids.
3. Weigh daily.
4. Provide diuretics as prescribed.
Ask the health care provider to prescribe a stool softener.
Rationale: Holding one's breath and bearing down is often done during a difficult bowel evacuation; however, the same action can cause the heart rate to decrease to an unsafe level when the heart is not beating too fast. Using that theoretical knowledge in a practical situation, the nurse requests a stool softener for the patient. A stool softener will reduce the likelihood that the patient will experience difficult bowel evacuation, thus decreasing the risk that the patient will engage in the action when the heart rate is normal. There is no evidence to suggest that fluid restriction, daily weights, or diuretics would address the implications related to the patient's breath holding and bearing down when trying to reduce a rapid heart rate.
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