The nurse is caring for a patient with heart failure. Which of the following treatment goals should the nurse prioritize?
Administer high-calorie diet to prevent weight loss.
Reduce sodium intake to help manage fluid retention.
Encourage complete bed rest to reduce cardiac workload.
Increase fluid intake to maintain hydration.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Administer high-calorie diet to prevent weight loss. While adequate nutrition is important, a high-calorie diet is not the primary priority in managing heart failure. Sodium and fluid management are usually more crucial to control fluid overload.
B. Reduce sodium intake to help manage fluid retention. Reducing sodium intake is a priority in heart failure management as it helps prevent fluid retention, which reduces workload on the heart and decreases symptoms of fluid overload.
C. Encourage complete bed rest to reduce cardiac workload. Complete bed rest is not recommended as it can lead to deconditioning and increased risk of blood clots. Activity should be balanced according to the patient’s tolerance.
D. Increase fluid intake to maintain hydration. In heart failure, increasing fluid intake could worsen fluid overload. Fluid restriction may be necessary to prevent excess fluid retention.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Consume small frequent meals throughout the day. Small, frequent meals reduce the volume of food entering the small intestine at one time, helping to prevent symptoms of dumping syndrome.
B. Lie down immediately after eating to aid digestion. Although lying down after eating can slow gastric emptying and help prevent dumping syndrome, it does not aid in digestion.
C. Include high-carbohydrate foods in every meal. High-carbohydrate foods are likely to worsen symptoms of dumping syndrome by causing rapid glucose absorption, which leads to a spike in insulin and subsequent hypoglycemia.
D. Drink fluids with meals to aid in digestion. Fluids should be taken between meals rather than with meals to avoid rapid gastric emptying and prevent dumping syndrome.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Mild wheezing: Mild wheezing can be a common symptom in COPD and does not immediately indicate a severe complication unless it worsens suddenly.
B. Fatigue and general malaise: Fatigue and malaise are often chronic in COPD and do not necessarily indicate an acute complication.
C. Increased sputum production: While increased sputum could suggest an infection, it is not the most urgent sign of a severe complication.
D. Sudden onset chest pain and dyspnea: Sudden chest pain and dyspnea are concerning for a pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism, both of which are potential complications in COPD and require immediate attention.