Author Question: An older patient with a history of heart failure is experiencing dyspnea, weight gain, chest pain, ... (Read 106 times)

neverstopbelieb · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

An older patient with a history of heart failure is experiencing dyspnea, weight gain, chest pain, and increasing edema of the lower extremities.

The patient's blood pressure is elevated. What should the nurse ask to help determine why the patient is currently having health problems?

1. Are you married?
2. Have you been out of the country lately?
3. Do you have grandchildren that you babysit?
4. Have you attended any recent family or social gatherings?

Question 2

The nurse is reviewing information received in report for a group of patients. Which patient should the nurse assess first?

1. patient with occasional chest pain who has recently been diagnosed with gallbladder disease
2. older patient with heart failure who was admitted with increasing edema of the lower extremities
3. newly admitted patient complaining of substernal chest pain and whose father died recently from heart disease
4. patient complaining of chest pain and hyperventilating after a family member leaves the room following an argument

harveenkau8139 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 4

If the patient has attended a recent family or social gathering in which food was served, it is possible that the sodium content of the food was higher than the patient anticipated. The other questions are not relevant to determining the reason for exacerbation of the patient's heart failure.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 3
The nurse would want to assess the newly admitted patient with substernal chest pain and a family history of cardiac disease and initiate any interventions that are appropriate. This manifestation could indicate mitral valve prolapse. The patient who is hyperventilating could be having an anxiety attack but needs to be assessed as soon as possible. The patient with gallbladder disease may have chest pain that is not cardiac related. The older patient with increasing edema of the extremities would need evaluation, but after another patient in the group.