The patient is admitted with sinus pauses causing periods of loss of consciousness. The patient is asymptomatic, awake and alert, but fatigued. He answers questions appropriately. When admitting this patient, the nurse should first:
a. prepare the patient for temporary pacemaker insertion.
b. prepare the patient for permanent pacemaker insertion.
c. assess the patient's medication profile.
d. apply transcutaneous pacemaker paddles.
C
AV nodal blocking medications (such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin) and increased vagal tone may cause sinus exit block. Causes are explored, and prescribed medications may need to be adjusted or discontinued. If patients are symptomatic, significant numbers of pauses may require treatment, including temporary (including transcutaneous) and permanent implantation of a pacemaker.
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The nurse is relating the deficits in a patient's synchronization of the atrial and ventricular events to his diagnosis. What are the physiologic characteristics of the nodal and Purkinje cells that provide this synchronization? Select all that apply
A) Loop connectivity B) Excitability C) Automaticity D) Conductivity E) Independence
The nurse is required to design a teaching plan for a client with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Which of the following would the nurse emphasize?
A) Dietary restrictions B) Activity restrictions C) Use of nonprescription medications D) Effective pin care
The parents of a 14-year-old girl are concerned that their adolescent spends too much time looking in the mirror. Which statement is the most appropriate for the nurse to make?
a. "Your teenager needs clearer and stricter limits about her behavior." b. "Your teenager needs more responsibility at home." c. "During adolescence this behavior is not unusual." d. "The behavior is abnormal and needs further investigation."
Medicare Part A provides payment for:
1. Laboratory services 2. Outpatient health care 3. Extended care facilities 4. Ambulance transportation