Author Question: A nurse assesses clients on a cardiac unit. Which clients should the nurse identify as at greatest ... (Read 236 times)

nevelica · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A nurse assesses clients on a cardiac unit. Which clients should the nurse identify as at greatest risk for the development of acute pericarditis? (Select all that apply.)

a. A 36-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
b. A 42-year-old man recovering from coronary artery bypass graft surgery
c. A 59-year-old woman recovering from a hysterectomy
d. An 80-year-old man with a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract
e. An 88-year-old woman with a stage III sacral ulcer

Question 2

A nurse evaluates laboratory results for a client with heart failure. Which results should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.)

a. Hematocrit: 32.8
b. Serum sodium: 130 mEq/L
c. Serum potassium: 4.0 mEq/L
d. Serum creatinine: 1.0 mg/dL
e. Proteinuria
f.
Microalbuminuria

mcomstock09 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A, B, D
Acute pericarditis is most commonly associated acute exacerbations of systemic connective tissue disease, including SLE; with Dressler's syndrome, or inflammation of the cardiac sac after cardiac surgery or a myocardial infarction; and with infective organisms, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Abdominal and reproductive surgeries and pressure ulcers do not increase clients' risk for acute pericarditis.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A, B, E, F
A hematocrit of 32.8 is low (should be 42.6), indicating a dilutional ratio of red blood cells to fluid. A serum sodium of 130 mEq/L is low because of hemodilution. Microalbuminuria and proteinuria are present, indicating a decrease in renal filtration. These are early warning signs of decreased compliance of the heart. The potassium level is on the high side of normal and the serum creatinine level is normal.