A nurse is caring for a client who has heart failure and has been taking digoxin 0.25 mg daily. The client refuses breakfast and reports nausea. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Suggest that the client rests before eating the meal.
Check the client's vital signs.
Request a dietary consult.
Request an order for an antiemetic.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Suggest that the client rests before eating the meal. Although rest can help with nausea, it does not address the potential issue of digoxin toxicity, which can cause nausea.
B. Check the client's vital signs. Checking vital signs, especially heart rate, is the priority because nausea can indicate digoxin toxicity, which affects heart function.
C. Request a dietary consult. A dietary consult may be helpful if the client continues to refuse meals, but it does not address the immediate potential for digoxin toxicity.
D. Request an order for an antiemetic. Although an antiemetic may help with nausea, assessing for toxicity takes priority.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Shortness of breath while lying down. Shortness of breath when lying down, or orthopnea, is common in left-sided heart failure due to fluid backing up into the lungs, causing pulmonary congestion.
B. Jugular venous distention. Jugular venous distention is more commonly associated with right-sided heart failure due to systemic venous congestion.
C. Right upper quadrant pain. Right upper quadrant pain is associated with liver congestion due to right-sided heart failure, not left-sided heart failure.
D. Pitting edema of the lower legs. Pitting edema is a symptom of right-sided heart failure, as fluid backs up into the peripheral circulation.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Barrel chest. A barrel chest is commonly seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rather than mitral valve stenosis.
B. Bradycardia. Bradycardia is not typically associated with mitral valve stenosis, as symptoms often include rapid or irregular heartbeat.
C. Clubbing of the fingers. Clubbing is associated with chronic hypoxia, often due to pulmonary conditions, not specifically with mitral valve stenosis.
D. Heart murmur. Mitral valve stenosis causes turbulent blood flow through the narrowed valve, resulting in a characteristic murmur.