The nurse administers atenolol 50 mg PO bid to a client who has coronary artery disease. The nurse understands that the therapeutic effect of this medication for this client is to:
Decrease the incidence of tachycardia
Dilate the coronary arteries
Decrease cardiac workload
Increase the strength of myocardial contraction
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Decreasing the incidence of tachycardia is not the main therapeutic effect of atenolol for coronary artery disease. Atenolol is a beta-blocker that lowers the heart rate, but this is not the primary goal of therapy for coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is caused by atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply the heart. This reduces the blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle and causes angina, or chest pain.
Choice B reason: Dilating the coronary arteries is not the therapeutic effect of atenolol for coronary artery disease. Atenolol does not directly affect the diameter of the coronary arteries. It works by blocking the beta receptors in the heart and reducing the response to adrenaline and other stress hormones. This lowers the blood pressure and the oxygen demand of the heart.
Choice C reason: This is the correct answer. Decreasing cardiac workload is the therapeutic effect of atenolol for coronary artery disease. Atenolol reduces the contractility and the excitability of the heart muscle, which lowers the force and the frequency of the heartbeats. This decreases the amount of work that the heart has to do and the amount of oxygen that it needs. This helps prevent or relieve anginal attacks and improve the quality of life of the client.
Choice D reason: Increasing the strength of myocardial contraction is not the therapeutic effect of atenolol for coronary artery disease. Atenolol does not increase the strength of myocardial contraction, but rather decreases it. Increasing the strength of myocardial contraction would increase the oxygen demand of the heart and worsen the angina. Atenolol aims to reduce the oxygen demand of the heart and improve the blood supply to the heart.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Respiratory alkalosis is not the correct answer. Respiratory alkalosis is a condition where the blood pH is high (above 7.45) due to low carbon dioxide levels (below 35 mmHg) caused by hyperventilation. The client's blood pH is low (7.2) and the carbon dioxide level is normal (40 mmHg), which does not indicate respiratory alkalosis.
Choice B reason: Metabolic alkalosis is not the correct answer. Metabolic alkalosis is a condition where the blood pH is high (above 7.45) due to high bicarbonate levels (above 26 mEq/L) caused by excessive loss of acids or intake of alkali. The client's blood pH is low (7.2) and the bicarbonate level is low (19 mEq/L), which does not indicate metabolic alkalosis.
Choice C reason: Respiratory acidosis is not the correct answer. Respiratory acidosis is a condition where the blood pH is low (below 7.35) due to high carbon dioxide levels (above 45 mmHg) caused by hypoventilation. The client's blood pH is low (7.2) but the carbon dioxide level is normal (40 mmHg), which does not indicate respiratory acidosis.
Choice D reason: This is the correct answer. Metabolic acidosis is a condition where the blood pH is low (below 7.35) due to low bicarbonate levels (below 22 mEq/L) caused by excessive production or intake of acids or loss of alkali. The client's blood pH is low (7.2) and the bicarbonate level is low (19 mEq/L), which indicates metabolic acidosis.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: The 68-year-old male who smokes one pack of cigarettes per day is not likely to have folic acid deficiency. Smoking can increase the risk of many health problems, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke, but it does not affect the absorption or metabolism of folic acid. ¹ Folic acid is a type of vitamin B that is essential for the production of red blood cells and DNA. ²
Choice B reason: The 47-year-old male construction foreman who takes atenolol is not likely to have folic acid deficiency. Atenolol is a drug that lowers blood pressure and heart rate by blocking the effects of adrenaline. ³ It does not interfere with the absorption or metabolism of folic acid.
Choice C reason: The 35-year-old female who drinks a glass of wine with dinner is not likely to have folic acid deficiency. Moderate alcohol consumption, defined as one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, does not affect the absorption or metabolism of folic acid. However, excessive alcohol intake can impair the absorption of folic acid from the intestine and increase its excretion from the urine, leading to folic acid deficiency.
Choice D reason: The 43-year-old female with Crohn's disease is the most likely to have folic acid deficiency. Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the digestive tract, causing symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Crohn's disease can impair the absorption of folic acid from the intestine, especially if the disease affects the small intestine, where most of the folic acid is absorbed. Crohn's disease can also increase the demand for folic acid, as inflammation and tissue damage require more folic acid for repair and regeneration.
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