A patient has a pulmonary artery (PA) catheter placed. What ...

[bucstennis@aim.com]

A patient has a pulmonary artery (PA) catheter placed. What should the nurse recognize as the purpose of this catheter?
 
  1. The patient cannot tolerate hemodynamic monitoring.
  2. The patient requires a peripheral intravenous catheter for medication administration.
  3. The patient would benefit from having the right ventricle pressures measured each shift.
  4. The patient requires evaluation of left ventricular pressures each shift.

Question 2

A patient is prescribed digoxin (Lanoxin). What is the nurse's priority instruction to the patient about this medication?
 
  1. how to manage itchy skin
  2. foods that should be eaten while taking this drug
  3. the importance of not taking the medication if the pulse is under 60 beats per minute
  4. the need to check the pulse once a week and record the result on a notepad

[nguyenhoanhat]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 4
The PA catheter is used to evaluate left ventricular and overall cardiac function. PA catheters are a form of hemodynamic monitoring. The PA catheter does not measure right ventricular pressures and would not be used to administer medications as it is a central arterial catheter, not a peripheral line.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 3
The highest priority is for the patient to know that it may not be safe to take the drug when the pulse is under 60 beats per minute (bpm) and to contact the physician if that occurs. The pulse should be assessed daily to determine if the medication can be taken. Itchy skin is not an adverse effect of this medication. The patient should be instructed to eat foods high in potassium; however, this is not the priority for this medication.

[bucstennis@aim.com]

Gracias!

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