A patient in the intensive care unit with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) complains of severe dyspnea and is anxious, tachypneic, and tachycardic. Several drugs have been ordered for the patient. The nurse's priority action will be to

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Morphine improves alveolar gas exchange, improves cardiac output by reducing ventricular preload and afterload, decreases anxiety, and assists in reducing the subjective feeling of dyspnea. Diazepam may decrease patient anxiety, but it will not improve the cardiac output or gas exchange. Increasing the dopamine may improve cardiac output, but it will also increase the heart rate and myocardial oxygen consumption. Nitroglycerin will improve cardiac output and may be appropriate for this patient, but it will not directly reduce anxiety and will not act as quickly as morphine to decrease dyspnea.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The internal elastic lamina is prominent in elastic arteries, aiding in their flexibility and recoil.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The 3rd heart sound (S3) occurs due to rapid ventricular filling in early to mid-diastole.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The normal QT interval is approximately 0.35-0.44 seconds, with 0.40 sec being a typical value.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Diabetic ketoacidosis causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath due to ketone buildup.