After three days of persistent epigastric pain, a female client presents to the clinic. She has been taking oral antacids without relief. Her vital signs are heart rate 122 beats/minute, respirations 16 breaths/minute, blood pressure 116/70 mm Hg, and oxygen saturation 96%. The nurse obtains a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Which assessment finding is most critical?

A 57-year-old male client is brought to the emergency department (ED) by emergency medical services (EMS) with reports of chest pain. Client was mowing his lawn and noticed chest pain presenting as tightness and pressure. The pain continued to increase over about 30 minutes when the client decided to rest. The client's wife called emergency medical services (EMS) when the pain was unrelieved after 20 minutes of rest. Client reports no other incidents of experiencing this pain. His medical history includes hypertension, obesity, and a 20 year history of smoking, having quit about 5 years ago. Takes metoprolol succinate ER 25 mg PO.

For each assessment finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with angina or myocardial infarction, or both. Each column must have at least one response option selected.

The nurse is caring for an older adult client with heart failure (HF) whose arterial blood gas (ABG) results include a pH 7.38, PaCO2 40 mm Hg, HCO3- 24 mEq/L (24 mmol/L), and a PaO2 90 mm Hg. Which action should the nurse implement?

Reference Range:

• Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
• pH [7.35 to 7.45]
• PaCO2 [35 to 45 mm Hg]
• HCO3- [21 to 28 mEq/L (21 to 28 mmol/L)]
• PaO2 [80 to 100 mm Hg]

The nurse auscultates a client's heart sounds and hears a midsystolic click associated with mitral valve prolapse. Which diagnostic test should the nurse prepare the client to expect the healthcare provider (HCP) to prescribe?

A client was admitted to the cardiac observation unit 2 hours ago reporting chest pain. On admission, the client's electrocardiogram (ECG) displays sinus bradycardia (SB) with ST segment depression, but no ventricular ectopy. The client suddenly reports a sharp increase in pain, telling the nurse, "I feel like an elephant just stepped on my chest." The ECG now displays Q waves and ST segment elevations in the anterior leads. Which interventions should the nurse perform?

Following cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and multiple defibrillations, the client's blood is drawn for STAT analysis. The client's heart rate is 130 beats/minute with ST elevation. Which of the client's serum laboratory values is most important for the nurse to monitor?

A male client with angina pectoris is being discharged from the hospital. Which instruction should the nurse plan to include in his discharge teaching?

The nurse is caring for a client recovering from a recent myocardial infarction. To reduce cardiac workload, which intervention should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?

A client who had a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) two weeks ago returns to the clinic for a follow up visit. The client has a postoperative ejection fraction of 30%. Today the client has lungs which are clear, +1 pedal edema, and a 5 pound weight gain. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

A client with chronic stable angina reports a new onset of shortness of breath at rest. The nurse obtains vital signs and records a heart rate of 168 beats/minute, respiratory rate 26 breaths/minute, and blood pressure 124/76 mm Hg. While waiting for an electrocardiogram (ECG), which assessment is most important for the nurse to obtain?

A client is admitted with a confirmed pulmonary embolism (PE). Six hours after heparin IV infusion is initiated, the client's partial thromboplastin time (PTT) is 152 seconds, so the infusion is discontinued. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?

Reference Range:

• Partial Prothrombin Time (PTT) [27 to 41 seconds]