Author Question: The nurse is educating a patient diagnosed with heart failure (HF). The nurse knows that instruction ... (Read 56 times)

madam-professor · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse is educating a patient diagnosed with heart failure (HF). The nurse knows that instruction regarding compensatory mechanisms has been effective when the patient states,

1. My heart enlarged in order to compensate for the effects of heart failure.
2. My nervous system kicks in to compensate for the effects of heart failure.
3. My body will decrease blood flow to other organs in order to compensate for heart failure.
4. My body will increase urine output in order to compensate for the effects of heart failure.
5. My body will produce anti-inflammatory agents to compensate for heart failure.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient who has been diagnosed with heart failure. The nurse knows that which conditions may have contributed to the development of heart failure in this patient?

1. Uncontrolled hypertension
2. Coronary artery disease
3. Diabetes
4. HIV
5. Mitral stenosis

sokh · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1,2,3
Rationale 1: Ventricular hypertrophy occurs as a compensatory mechanism to heart failure.
Rationale 2: One of the fastest homeostatic responses to diminished cardiac output is activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The increased heart rate resulting from sympathetic activation is a normal compensatory mechanism that serves to increase cardiac output.
Rationale 3: When cardiac output in a patient with HF is diminished, blood flow to the kidneys is reduced.
Rationale 4: Vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone), which is elevated in HF patients, causes fluid retention and worsens this condition.
Rationale 5: Two pro-inflammatory substances, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin, are found in high levels in patients with HF and are associated with a poor prognosis.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1,2,3,5
Rationale 1: Uncontrolled hypertension is associated with the development of heart failure.
Rationale 2: Coronary artery disease is associated with the development of heart failure.
Rationale 3: Diabetes is associated with the development of heart failure.
Rationale 4: HIV is not associated with the development of heart failure.
Rationale 5: Mitral stenosis is associated with the development of heart failure.