What will the nurse include in the plan of care for a patient with atrial fibrillation? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply
1. Monitor neurological status every 4 hours.
2. Administer anticoagulants as ordered to minimize risk for an embolic event.
3. Prepare the patient for defibrillation to assist in conversion to normal sinus rhythm.
4. Administer beta blockers (atenolol) and calcium channel blockers (diltiazem) to lower heart rate in order to maximize cardiac output.
5. Use vagal stimulation to control heart rate.
1,2,4
Rationale 1: Monitoring the neurological status every 4 hours is an intervention to include when planning care for a patient with atrial fibrillation (AF) due to the increased risk of emboli/thrombi.
Rationale 2: Administering anticoagulants as ordered is an intervention to include when planning care for a patient with atrial fibrillation (AF) due to the patient's increased risk of emboli/thrombi.
Rationale 3: Defibrillation is not usually done for AF.
Rationale 4: Administering beta blockers (atenolol) and calcium channel blockers (diltiazem) to lower heart rate in order to maximize cardiac output are interventions to include when planning care for a patient with atrial fibrillation (AF).
Rationale 5: Vagal stimulation is an intervention for atrial tachycardia, not AF.
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