A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is ordered for a patient ...

[schs14]

A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is ordered for a patient with possible endocarditis. Which action included in the standard TEE orders will the nurse need to accomplish first?
 
  a. Start an IV line.
  b. Place the patient on NPO status.
  c. Administer O2 per nasal cannula.
  d. Give lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg IV.

Question 2

When admitting a patient for a cardiac catheterization and coronary angiogram, which infor-mation about the patient is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care pro-vider?
 
  a. The patient's pedal pulses are +1.
  b. The patient is allergic to shellfish.
  c. The patient had a heart attack a year ago.
  d. The patient has not eaten anything today.

[aburgess]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The patient will need to be NPO for 6 hours preceding the TEE, so the nurse should place the patient on NPO status as soon as the order is received. The other actions also will need to be ac-complished but not until just before or during the procedure.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The contrast dye used for the procedure is iodine based, so patients who have shellfish allergies will require treatment with medications such as corticosteroids and antihistamines before the an-giogram. The other information is also communicated to the health care provider but will not re-quire a change in the usual precardiac catheterization orders or medications.

[schs14]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[jackie]

Excellent