The nurse is educating a client prior to an electrocardiogram (ECG). What is the best explanation regarding the purpose of electrocardiography?
To measure the pumping strength of the heart
To examine the heart's electrical activity
To evaluate coronary artery blood flow
To visualize the cardiac silhouette
The Correct Answer is B
A. While an ECG can provide insight into the function of the heart, it does not directly measure the pumping strength.
B. The primary purpose of an ECG is to assess the electrical activity of the heart. It measures the timing and strength of electrical signals as they move through the heart muscle, which helps diagnose arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and other cardiac conditions.
C. An ECG does not evaluate coronary artery blood flow. Tests like coronary angiography or stress tests are used for that purpose.
D. An ECG does not provide a visualization of the heart's size or shape, which would be done through imaging methods like a chest X-ray or echocardiogram.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Temperature is not directly related to the effects of nitroglycerin or the client’s need for additional doses.
B. While oxygen saturation is important, it does not directly influence the decision to administer nitroglycerin, which primarily works to relieve chest pain by dilating coronary arteries and reducing myocardial oxygen demand.
C. Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator that can lower blood pressure. It is crucial to check the client’s blood pressure before administering another dose of nitroglycerin because excessive drops in blood pressure can lead to dizziness, fainting, or other complications. If the blood pressure is already low, further administration may be contraindicated.
D. Apical pulse rate is important to monitor but is not the most critical cue in this scenario. Nitroglycerin primarily affects blood pressure and coronary circulation rather than directly influencing heart rate.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Troponins (specifically troponin I and T) are proteins released when the heart muscle is damaged. They are the most specific and sensitive markers for myocardial injury, especially in diagnosing a myocardial infarction (MI).
B. Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme found in various tissues, including the heart. CK-MB is a cardiac isoenzyme, but it is not as specific for myocardial injury as troponins. It can also be elevated in other conditions like muscle injury.
C. Homocysteine (Hcy) is an amino acid that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease but does not serve as an immediate marker for myocardial damage.
D. Myoglobin is an early marker of muscle injury, but it lacks specificity for myocardial damage as it can also rise in skeletal muscle injury, making it less reliable than troponins.
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