Following an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), a patient ambulates in the hospital hallway. When the nurse is evaluating the patient's response to the activity, which assessment data would indicate that the exercise level should be decreased?
a. Blood pressure (BP) changes from 118/60 to 126/68 mm Hg.
b. Oxygen saturation drops from 99% to 95%.
c. Heart rate increases from 66 to 92 beats/minute.
d. Respiratory rate goes from 14 to 20 breaths/minute.
ANS: C
A change in heart rate of more than 20 beats over the resting heart rate indicates that the patient should stop and rest. The increases in BP and respiratory rate, and the slight decrease in oxygen saturation, are normal responses to exercise.
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