The nurse working on the heart failure unit knows that teaching an older female patient with newly diagnosed heart failure is effective when the patient states that

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Teaching for a patient with heart failure includes information about the need to weigh daily and notify the health care provider about an increase of 3 lb in 2 days or 3 to 5 lb in a week. Nitroglycerin patches are used primarily to reduce preload (not to prevent chest pain) in patients with heart failure and should be used daily, not on an 'as needed' basis. Diuretics should be taken earlier in the day to avoid nocturia and sleep disturbance. The patient should call the clinic if increased orthopnea develops rather than just compensating by further elevating the head of the bed.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The great saphenous vein is commonly harvested for coronary artery bypass grafting due to its length and accessibility.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Lead aVL uses the left arm as the positive electrode, with the right arm and left leg as reference.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The end of ventricular ejection is marked by the closing of the semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonary).

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Increased contractility raises cardiac output for the same end-diastolic volume on a Frank-Starling curve.