A 65-year-old patient with a history of heart failure presents to the emergency department with shortness of breath and hypotension. Which of the following medications would be most appropriate to administer in order to decrease the afterload and improve cardiac output in this patient?

After the nurse administers IV atropine to a client with symptomatic sinus bradycardia, which of the following findings would best indicate that the medication has been effective in reversing the bradycardic episode?

A client who has had a myocardial infarction is started on a cardiac rehabilitation program. The client asks the nurse why he must participate in this program. What is the most important information for the nurse to include in answering the client's question?

A client's EKG rhythm converts from normal sinus rhythm at 80 bpm to atrial fibrillation with a ventricular response at 166 bpm. Blood pressure is 162/74 mm Hg. Respiratory rate is 20 breaths per minute with normal chest expansion and clear lungs bilaterally. IV Heparin and Diltiazem are initiated. The nurse caring for the client understands that the priority goal of treatment is what?

In the change of shift report, you are told that your client is in a second-degree type 1 AV heart block. You anticipate that the cardiac rhythm strip will reveal which of the following?

In helping to diagnose an acute MI, which electrocardiographic (ECG) change will be of most concern to the nurse when admitting a client with chest pain?

Which of the following dysrhythmias is an example of a narrow QRS complex tachycardia?

A client has a temporary demand pacemaker. During your AM assessment you note that the client's heart rate is 40 bpm, and the client is hypotensive. There are no pacer spikes evident on the rhythm strip. You suspect

Which of the following does not return to normal for a client experiencing a ST elevated myocardial infarction?

A client had coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. His hemodynamics are:

• central venous pressure (CVP) low at 1 mm Hg;
• pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) low at 20/4 mm Hg;
• cardiac output (CO) low at 4 L/min;
• systemic vascular resistance (SVR) high at 1600 dynes/sec/cm(-5):
• BP low at 90/56 mm Hg.

The client's hemodynamic status would benefit most from

The nurse is assessing a client with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The nurse includes a careful history in the assessment, especially regarding the signs and symptoms. What signs and symptoms are suggestive of an ACS?