An adult who fell 20 feet (6 meters) from a tree is admitted to the intermediate intensive care unit with a fractured femur. When the cardiac monitor alarms, the nurse finds the client has no palpable carotid pulse and no spontaneous respiration, however, the cardiac monitor displays a sinus rhythm. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
View the rhythm in another chest lead.
Begin chest compressions at a rate of 120 times a minute.
Auscultate all chest fields for muffled lung sounds.
Observe for swelling at the fracture site.
The Correct Answer is B
A. View the rhythm in another chest lead. While verifying the rhythm in another lead may help confirm the accuracy of the monitor, it does not address the immediate absence of a pulse and respirations. The client is in pulseless electrical activity (PEA), which requires immediate intervention rather than rhythm verification.
B. Begin chest compressions at a rate of 120 times a minute. The client has no palpable carotid pulse and no spontaneous respirations despite a sinus rhythm on the monitor, indicating pulseless electrical activity (PEA). PEA is a form of cardiac arrest where the heart shows electrical activity but fails to generate effective circulation. Immediate high-quality chest compressions are essential to maintain perfusion while addressing the underlying cause, such as hypovolemia or tension pneumothorax.
C. Auscultate all chest fields for muffled lung sounds. While assessing for muffled lung sounds may help detect conditions such as tension pneumothorax or hemothorax, it should not delay the initiation of CPR. Once compressions are started, the underlying cause of PEA can be investigated.
D. Observe for swelling at the fracture site. Swelling at the fracture site may indicate bleeding or compartment syndrome, but assessing the fracture should not take priority over initiating CPR. If hemorrhage is suspected as a cause of PEA, rapid fluid resuscitation should be initiated after starting chest compressions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["9"]
Explanation
Calculation:
Calculate the dopamine dose in mcg/min:
Dose = 2 mcg/kg/min
Weight = 60 kg
Dose per minute = 2 mcg/kg/min × 60 kg
= 120 mcg/min
Calculate the dopamine dose in mcg/hour:
Dose per hour = 120 mcg/min × 60 min/hour
= 7200 mcg/hour
Convert mcg to mg:
Dose per hour = 7200 mcg/hour / 1000 mcg/mg
= 7.2 mg/hour
Calculate the concentration of dopamine in the IV bag:
Dopamine: 400 mg
Solution: 500 mL
Concentration = 400 mg / 500 mL
= 0.8 mg/mL
Calculate the infusion rate in mL/hour:
Dose per hour: 7.2 mg/hour
Concentration: 0.8 mg/mL
Infusion rate = 7.2 mg/hour / 0.8 mg/mL
= 9 mL/hour
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB). CK-MB is a cardiac enzyme that rises 3-6 hours after myocardial injury and was previously used to diagnose myocardial infarction (MI). However, it is less specific than troponin and can be elevated in skeletal muscle damage, making troponin the preferred biomarker for cardiac injury.
B. Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). SGPT (also known as alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) is a liver enzyme and is not a primary marker for cardiac injury. While cardiac arrest and hypoxia can lead to liver damage, monitoring cardiac-specific markers is the priority in this scenario.
C. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). LDH is a nonspecific marker of tissue damage that can be elevated in cardiac, hepatic, renal, or other organ injuries. It is not cardiac-specific and is no longer used as a primary diagnostic tool for MI.
D. Cardiac troponin. Troponin (T and I) is the most specific and sensitive biomarker for myocardial injury. The presence of ST elevation in multiple leads suggests acute myocardial infarction (MI) as the cause of cardiac arrest. Troponin levels begin to rise within 2-3 hours, peak at 12-24 hours, and remain elevated for 7-10 days, making them the most important laboratory value to monitor for ongoing cardiac damage.
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