A patient is admitted to the hospital for a splenectomy. The nurse understands that the health-care provider prescribes an injection of vitamin K prior to surgery for which action?

A. Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with multiple myeloma but may not directly impact safety in the home environment as much as other factors.
B. An unsteady gait can increase the risk of falls and injuries, making it a priority for safety considerations in the home environment.
C. Back pain is common in multiple myeloma but may not directly affect safety in the home environment unless it significantly impairs mobility.

D. Dyspnea on exertion may limit physical activity but may not pose an immediate safety risk in the home environment unless it indicates a severe respiratory compromise.

A. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by rapid, irregular electrical impulses originating from the atria, resulting in a quivering or fibrillating motion of the atria rather than a coordinated contraction.
B. Asystole is the absence of any electrical activity on the cardiac monitor, resulting in a flat line. It indicates the absence of ventricular contraction and is considered a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention (CPR and advanced cardiac life support).
C. Ventricular fibrillation is characterized by chaotic, disorganized electrical activity in the ventricles, resulting in ineffective quivering of the ventricles and loss of cardiac output.
D. Atrial flutter is characterized by rapid but regular electrical impulses originating from the atria, resulting in a sawtooth pattern on the ECG tracing.