Author Question: After teaching a client who is recovering from a heart transplant to change positions slowly, the ... (Read 139 times)

bb · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

After teaching a client who is recovering from a heart transplant to change positions slowly, the client asks, Why is this important? How should the nurse respond?

a. Rapid position changes can create shear and friction forces, which can tear out your internal vascular sutures.
b. Your new vascular connections are more sensitive to position changes, leading to increased intravascular pressure and dizziness.
c. Your new heart is not connected to the nervous system and is unable to respond to decreases in blood pressure caused by position changes.
d. While your heart is recovering, blood flow is diverted away from the brain, increasing the risk for stroke when you stand up.

Question 2

A nurse assesses a client with pericarditis. Which assessment finding should the nurse expect to find?

a. Heart rate that speeds up and slows down
b. Friction rub at the left lower sternal border
c. Presence of a regular gallop rhythm
d. Coarse crackles in bilateral lung bases

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

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Because the new heart is denervated, the baroreceptor and other mechanisms that compensate for blood pressure drops caused by position changes do not function. This allows orthostatic hypotension to persist in the postoperative period. The other options are false statements and do not correctly address the client's question.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The client with pericarditis may present with a pericardial friction rub at the left lower sternal border. This sound is the result of friction from inflamed pericardial layers when they rub together. The other assessments are not related.