The nurse is attempting to determine the ventricular rate and rhythm of a patient's telemetry strip. What should the nurse examine to determine this part of the analysis?

A. Relieve client symptoms - Heart failure can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling (edema), and difficulty exercising. Relieving these symptoms is an important goal to improve the client's quality of life and overall well-being.

B. Extend survival - Heart failure is a chronic condition that can significantly impact life expectancy. One of the goals of care is to optimize management to extend the client's survival and reduce the risk of complications.

C. Improve functional status - Heart failure can limit a person's ability to perform daily activities and exercise. Improving functional status involves strategies such as medication management, lifestyle modifications, and cardiac rehabilitation to enhance the client's ability to engage in daily activities and maintain independence.

D. Prevent endocarditis - Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and heart valves. While preventing infections is important for overall health, preventing endocarditis may not be directly related to the primary goals of heart failure management. However, maintaining good hygiene and avoiding infections can contribute to the overall well-being of the client.

E. Limit physical activity - This statement is incorrect in the context of heart failure management. Encouraging appropriate levels of physical activity is often part of heart failure care. Physical activity, when tailored to the individual's abilities and guided by healthcare professionals, can improve cardiovascular function, strengthen muscles, and enhance overall health outcomes in clients with heart failure.

A. 120/80 mm Hg or lower:

This blood pressure range is considered normal or optimal for most adults. However, for individuals diagnosed with hypertension, the goal is typically to reduce blood pressure to below 140/90 mm Hg, as maintaining normal blood pressure is not considered a goal for hypertension treatment unless specifically indicated based on individual circumstances.

B. Average of two BP readings of 150/80 mm Hg:

A blood pressure reading of 150/80 mm Hg is elevated and indicates hypertension, especially if consistently elevated across multiple readings. The goal of hypertension treatment is to lower blood pressure to below 140/90 mm Hg, so an average of 150/80 mm Hg would not be considered the goal of treatment.

C. 140/90 mm Hg or lower:

This blood pressure range is commonly recommended as the goal of treatment for individuals with hypertension who otherwise enjoy good health. It represents a balance between effective blood pressure control and minimizing the risk of side effects or complications associated with overly aggressive treatment.

D. 156/96 mm Hg or lower:

While a blood pressure reading of 156/96 mm Hg is elevated and indicates hypertension, the goal of treatment is typically to reduce blood pressure to below 140/90 mm Hg rather than targeting a specific numeric value below 156/96 mm Hg.