A patient is concerned about the arterial line waveform pattern because there is a break in the downward slope of the pattern and "something must be wrong" because it is not a smooth line. What is the nurse's best response?
1. "What you are seeing is called a dicrotic notch, and it means the beginning of the resting phase of your heart."
2. "It is nothing for you to be concerned about. It is just a measurement of your blood pressure."
3. "You are right. I will see if you are prescribed any medication for that problem."
4. "You are seeing the strongest part of your heart muscle, which is the first number of a blood pressure reading."
1
Rationale 1: The dicrotic notch represents closure of the aortic valve and distinguishes the beginning of diastole or the resting phase of the heart ventricles.
Rationale 2: The nurse should not minimize the patient's concern.
Rationale 3: The nurse should not agree with the patient or suggest that the patient might need medication.
Rationale 4: The dicrotic notch does not signify the first number of a blood pressure reading.
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