A patient is receiving vancomycin. Which physiological function is the priority for the nurse to assess?
Vision
Heart tones
Bowel sounds
Hearing
The Correct Answer is D
A. Vision is not commonly affected by vancomycin, so it is not a priority to assess.
B. Heart tones are not directly impacted by vancomycin and do not require immediate monitoring unless there are specific cardiovascular concerns.
C. Bowel sounds are not directly influenced by vancomycin and do not need to be prioritized in this case.
D. Vancomycin is known to be ototoxic, especially in high doses or with prolonged use, so monitoring for signs of hearing loss or tinnitus is essential to prevent potential irreversible damage.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Hyperkalemia can lead to dangerous cardiac arrhythmias and other heart-related complications due to its effect on the electrical conduction system of the heart, making cardiac assessment the priority.
B. While neurological assessment is important in various conditions, it is secondary to assessing cardiac status in hyperkalemia.
C. Gastrointestinal symptoms can occur with hyperkalemia, but they do not pose an immediate life-threatening risk like cardiac issues do.
D. Respiratory assessment is essential in many contexts, but the immediate threat of hyperkalemia lies in its impact on heart function, making cardiac assessment the most critical.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Ventricular filling time and diastolic filling time are not formulas used to calculate cardiac output; they pertain to the phases of the cardiac cycle.
B. Cardiac output is calculated by multiplying stroke volume (the amount of blood ejected by the heart with each beat) by heart rate (the number of beats per minute). This formula accurately reflects the overall volume of blood the heart pumps in one minute.
C. Myocardial contractility and myocardial blood flow are important factors in cardiac function but do not directly provide a formula for calculating cardiac output.
D. Preload and afterload are factors that affect stroke volume but are not used to calculate cardiac output directly.