A 77-year-old patient is being treated for cardiac arrhythmi ...

[bucstennis@aim.com]

A 77-year-old patient is being treated for cardiac arrhythmi
 
  a. The nurse determines that the patient's cardiac output is adequate with which assessments? (Select all that apply.)
  a. Urine output of 140 cc over 4 hours
  b. Systolic blood pressure that remains within 20 mm of baseline
  c. Denial of substernal pain
  d. Recollection of the birthdays of all of her grandchildren
  e. Absence of rales and crackles

Question 2

The nurse caring for an older patient diagnosed with spinal stenosis encourages the patient to notify her physician if she experiences
 
  a. sharp pain when turning her neck side-to-side.
  b. stabbing pain in her lower back.
  c. a cramping sensation in her feet.
  d. a burning sensation in either one or both legs.

[spencer.martell]

Answer to Question 1

A, B, D, E
The patient will maintain an adequate cardiac output, as evidenced by heart rate and rhythm within normal range, stable blood pressure, adequate peripheral pulses, mental alertness, urine output of 30 mL/hr, and clear breath sounds. Normal mentation also denotes good cardiac output, but the patient may have too many birthdays to remember, so this is not the best indicator of cognitive status.

Answer to Question 2

D
Patients with spinal stenosis may develop claudication-like symptoms of burning and numbness in their lower extremities. This is a sign of cord compression and needs to be reported. The other symptoms are not as worrisome.

[bucstennis@aim.com]

TYSM

[apple]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it