ATI LPN
Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition
Chapter 23 : Caring for Clients With Infectious and Inflammatory Disorders of the Heart
and Blood Vessels Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is instructing a new graduate nurse. Together, they are caring for a client with infective endocarditis. What is a sign of infective endocarditis?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Splinter hemorrhage, black longitudinal lines, can be seen in the nails of the clients with endocarditis. Polyarthritis, inflammation of more than one joint, is a potential manifestation of rheumatic carditis. A heart murmur is the first abnormal sign detected in clients with cardiomyopathy. Precordial pain is the main characteristic of pericarditis.
Question 2 of 5
A young parent brings a 4-year-old child in to the pediatric clinic with a mild fever and a red, spotty rash that is beginning to fade. The child's heart rate is rapid, and the rhythm is abnormal. The parent states the child has been healthy until about 3 weeks ago when the child had a sore throat. The nurse suspects rheumatic carditis. What organism causes rheumatic carditis?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The inflammatory symptoms of rheumatic carditis are believed to be induced by antibodies originally formed to destroy the group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal microorganisms. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus viridians are associated with infectious endocarditis. The Epstein-Barr virus is associated with myocarditis.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client with thrombophlebitis. When assessing this client, what would be most important to assess for?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Consult with the client about chest pain and dyspnea, which are hallmarks of PE, a complication of thrombophlebitis.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client with infective endocarditis, the treatment of which will require periodically taking antibiotics for life. The client wants to know why. What would be the nurse's best answer to the client?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse informs clients that periodic antibiotic therapy is a lifelong necessity because they will be vulnerable to the disease for the rest of their lives. Telling the client 'just to be on the safe side' minimizes the client's question and does not answer the question. The other two answers are partially correct but are not the best answer.
Question 5 of 5
Which type of cardiomyopathy is associated with syncope?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with syncope (sudden loss of consciousness) or near-syncopal episodes, which the client may describe as 'graying out'. Dilated cardiomyopathy, the most common type, is accompanied by dyspnea on exertion and when lying down. Restrictive cardiomyopathy has symptoms of exertional dyspnea, dependent edema in the legs, ascites (fluid in the abdomen), and hepatomegaly (enlarged liver). Arrhythmic cardiomyopathy is inherited.