The client diagnosed with acute heart failure is prescribed an infusion of dopamine at a low dose. Which assessment parameter should the nurse use to best evaluate the effectiveness of this medication?

Urine output has increased from 30 mL to 50 mL per hour

Blood pressure decreased from 140/80 to 90/50

Heart rate has increased from 80 to 110 beats per minute

Client is awake, alert and oriented to time, place and person

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A.   Dopamine at low doses primarily increases renal perfusion, which can lead to improved urine output. An increase in urine output is a key indicator that the medication is effectively improving kidney function and blood flow. This is the most direct way to assess its effectiveness.
B.   A decrease in blood pressure is not an expected effect of low-dose dopamine, which should actually help improve perfusion and raise blood pressure.
C.   An increase in heart rate is more likely with higher doses of dopamine and is not an optimal indicator of the drug's effectiveness for acute heart failure.
D.   Client alertness is important but does not directly reflect the primary effects of dopamine on renal perfusion and cardiac output in acute heart failure.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Carotid massage can be used as a vagal maneuver for certain types of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), particularly in stable patients. However, it is not recommended in cases where the patient has a history of cocaine use or is showing signs of instability because of the potential for triggering a serious event, like a stroke.
B. Adenosine is a medication commonly used for the treatment of SVT. However, it should be given with caution and only after assessing the patient's condition. In this case, the patient needs to be assessed first, including vital signs, level of consciousness, and overall stability, before any medications are administered.
C. Electrical cardioversion is indicated for unstable SVT (e.g., signs of hemodynamic instability such as hypotension, chest pain, or altered mental status). However, this patient is only reporting a "racing heart" and nervousness and has not yet been assessed for vital signs or other clinical symptoms.
D. The first step in this case should be to assess the patient's condition. This includes checking the vital signs, level of consciousness, and overall stability. Once this initial assessment is performed, the nurse can then determine whether medications or other interventions (like adenosine or cardioversion) are needed.

A. Prothrombin time, fibrin level and eosinophil count B. Fibrin degradation products, lactic acid and complete blood count C. D-dimer, fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products D. Complete blood count, Complete metabolic panel and prothrombin time

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. This test set is incomplete for diagnosing DIC. While PT and fibrinogen are important, the eosinophil count is not a key test for DIC.
B. While fibrin degradation products are useful, lactic acid is not specific for DIC and may indicate other issues. A complete blood count is helpful but not definitive for diagnosing DIC.
C. These are key markers for DIC. An elevated D-dimer indicates clot formation and breakdown, while fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products are used to assess clotting and fibrinolysis, both of which are abnormal in DIC.
D. Complete blood count, complete metabolic panel, and prothrombin time are general tests and can give some clues, but they are not definitive for diagnosing DIC.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

The client diagnosed with acute heart failure is prescribed an infusion of dopamine at a low dose. Which assessment parameter should the nurse use to best evaluate the effectiveness of this medication?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A client presents to the Emergency Department (ED) complaining of a "racing" heart and nervousness. The client also admits to a history of cocaine abuse. The cardiac monitor displays the rhythm below. Which nursing intervention should the nurse perform?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The nurse is viewing orders for a client with a suspected diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The nurse recognizes that which laboratory test order set will guide the provider to a diagnosis of DIC?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Which clinical manifestation would the nurse use to best indicate that the status of an elderly client's chronic heart failure condition is Improving?

The nurse is caring for a client who is in the later stages of left-sided heart failure. Which chief complaint would the nurse expect the client to report?

A patient is ordered 1 mg/kg of furosemide IV push. The patient weights 121 Ibs. The medication is supplied 40 mg/10 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (round to the nearest tenth)

The nurse is performing the initial assessment of a client diagnosed with heart failure. Which question should the nurse ask to best assess the client's respiratory status?

The nurse is evaluating the following rhythm strip on a client in the telemetry unit. The client is alert and oriented but complains of slight nausea after eating breakfast. What is the nurse's best action?

The nurse is reviewing the laboratory values for the client diagnosed with heart failure and notes the sodium level is 128 mEq/L (normal 135-145mEq/L). How should the nurse interpret this finding?

The nurse is performing an admission assessment of an older adult client with a history of chronic heart failure. The client exhibits +2 pitting edema of the ankles and bibasilar crackles. Based on these findings what action should the nurse take next?

The nurse is caring for a client who received a transfusion of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) for an acute GI bleed related to accidental wantarin overdose. Which laboratory result would indicate the need for an additional unit of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) to correct the problem caused by the overdose?