The nurse in a heart failure clinic explains the effect of cardiac dysrhythmia on the body to a group of clients. What is the most important information to include in this teaching?

Question

1. "Cardiac rhythm disturbances cause the amount of blood pumped out of your heart to decrease."
2. "Most cardiac rhythm disturbances do not affect the body at all."
3. "The biggest problem with most cardiac rhythm disturbances is that they cause nervousness and irritability."
4. "Cardiac rhythm disturbances often cause gastrointestinal upset."

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: One of the biggest results of cardiac rhythm disturbance is decreased cardiac output.
Rationale 2: Any disturbance of rhythm has some effect in the body. The effects may be minor or major.
Rationale 3: Clients with cardiac rhythm disturbances may experience nervousness or irritability, but this is not the major effect or concern.
Rationale 4: Some cardiac rhythm disturbances do cause gastrointestinal upset, but this is not the major effect or concern.
Global Rationale: One of the biggest results of cardiac rhythm disturbance is decreased cardiac output. Any disturbance of rhythm has some effect in the body. The effects may be minor or major. Clients with cardiac rhythm disturbances may experience nervousness or irritability, but this is not the major effect or concern. Some cardiac rhythm disturbances do cause gastrointestinal upset, but this is not the major effect or concern.