Lecture Notes on Nursing Care for Cardiovascular Conditions

Hypertension and Hydrochlorothiazide

• Potential Side Effect: Hypokalemia
• Rationale: Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic that can lead to potassium excretion, causing hypokalemia.

Pacemaker Care

• Appropriate Intervention: Check insertion site for swelling, redness, and discharge
• Rationale: Monitoring signs of infection or complications is crucial post-insertion.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Dietary Restrictions

• Correct Understanding: Avoid adding salt to meals
• Rationale: Low sodium diet helps to prevent fluid retention in CHF patients.

Myocardial Infarction (MI) Lab Values

• Consistent Lab Value: Elevated troponin level
• Rationale: Troponin is a specific marker for myocardial injury and rises after a heart attack.

Warfarin Therapy and Diet

• Food to Consume in Moderation: Spinach
• Rationale: Spinach is high in vitamin K, which counteracts warfarin's effects.

Aortic Stenosis Symptoms

• Indicative Symptom: Chest pain
• Rationale: Reduced blood flow from the left ventricle can cause chest pain.

Nitroglycerin Administration

• Correct Method: Place tablet under the tongue to dissolve
• Rationale: Sublingual administration allows rapid absorption.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Symptoms

• Consistent Finding: Intermittent claudication
• Rationale: Pain during walking, relieved by rest, is classic in PAD due to reduced blood flow.

Cardiac Catheterization Preparation

• Warrant Further Investigation: Not fasting before the procedure
• Rationale: Clients need to fast for several hours before cardiac catheterization.

Enoxaparin Therapy

• Monitor For: Hematuria
• Rationale: Hematuria can indicate excessive anticoagulation or bleeding complications.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Risk Factors

• Modifiable Risk Factor: Smoking
• Rationale: Smoking cessation can reduce CAD risk.

Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Risk

• Preventive Medication: Warfarin
• Rationale: Anticoagulant therapy reduces clot formation and stroke risk.

Myocardial Infarction Initial Medication

• First Medication: Aspirin
• Rationale: Aspirin prevents further clot formation.

Right-Sided Heart Failure Symptoms

• Consistent Finding: Jugular vein distension
• Rationale: JVD indicates increased central venous pressure common in right-sided heart failure.

Heart Failure and Lung Sounds

• Expected Sound: Crackles
• Rationale: Fluid accumulation in alveoli, indicative of pulmonary edema.

Digoxin Toxicity Signs

• Indicative Symptom: Yellow-tinted vision
• Rationale: Yellow vision is a specific sign of digoxin toxicity.

ECG Findings and Myocardial Ischemia

• Consistent Finding: Inverted T-wave
• Rationale: Inverted T-waves indicate myocardial ischemia.

Venous Insufficiency Care

• Appropriate Intervention: Elevate legs above heart level
• Rationale: Elevation reduces swelling and improves venous return.

Myocardial Infarction Assessment

• First Action: Obtain an ECG
• Rationale: Confirms MI diagnosis and determines severity and location.

Ejection Fraction Test

• Best Diagnostic Test: Echocardiogram
• Rationale: Provides visual representation and measurement of ejection fraction.

Postural Hypotension Monitoring

• Correct Method: Measure BP after lying down and then standing
• Rationale: Identifies drop in BP when moving from lying to standing.

Therapeutic Response to Beta Blockers

• Indicator: Reduced chest pain
• Rationale: Beta blockers decrease myocardial oxygen demand and alleviate chest pain.

Digoxin Toxicity Antidote

• Medication: Digibind
• Rationale: Digibind is used to treat digoxin toxicity.

ACE Inhibitor Side Effect

• Immediate Reporting: Dry cough
• Rationale: Persistent dry cough may require medication change.

Stroke Warning Signs

• Warning Symptom: Sudden confusion
• Rationale: Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding indicates a stroke.

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