A nurse notes an increased heart rate in a patient with heart failure. Which compensatory mechanism is likely at play?

A. Hypertrophy increases oxygen demand but does not improve cardiac function; it typically worsens ejection fraction.
B. Hypertrophy and remodeling initially help compensate but over time lead to inefficient heart muscle with poor contractility and increased oxygen demand, contributing to worsening heart failure.
C. Hypertrophy and remodeling increase, not reduce, workload, and do not resolve heart failure.
D. Contractility often declines and oxygen demand increases, contrary to this statement.

A. Administer antibiotics only if the client has a high fever on two separate occasions – Waiting for multiple fevers delays critical treatment and is not evidence-based.
B. Start antibiotics immediately, even before confirmation of diagnosis – In suspected bacterial meningitis, early administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics is life-saving. Delaying treatment until confirmation can lead to rapid deterioration due to the severity and speed of disease progression.
C. Wait for confirmation of diagnosis before starting antibiotics – Delaying antibiotic treatment while waiting for lab confirmation (e.g., lumbar puncture) puts the patient at risk of worsening illness and complications.
D. Avoid antibiotics altogether as they are not effective against bacterial meningitis – Antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment for bacterial meningitis and significantly reduce mortality and morbidity.