Deck 24: Caring for Clients With Valvular Disorders of the Heart

Question 1

The nursing instructor is teaching the junior nursing students about aortic regurgitation. What classification of drugs are used to treat aortic regurgitation?

A) Antihypertensives
B) Anticoagulants
C) Cardiac glycosides
D) Anti-arrhythmics

Answer 1

Cardiac glycosides

Question 2

What disease process is mitral regurgitation associated with?

A) Aortic stenosis
B) Cellulitis
C) Pulmonary fibrosis
D) Rheumatic carditis

Answer 2

Rheumatic carditis

Question 3

The nurse caring for a client with a diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse would recommend what when tachycardia occurs?

A) Take in adequate fluid
B) Breathe deeply
C) Maintain bed rest
D) Increase activity

Answer 3

Increase activity

Question 4

A client has a suspected diagnosis of aortic valve regurgitation. What diagnostic test would reveal high left ventricular pressure and backward movement of blood?

A) Balloon angiography
B) Cardiac catheterization
C) Cardiac enzyme blood work
D) Chest radiography

Question 5

You are the nurse caring for a client with mitral valve prolapse. What is the significance of a systolic murmur?

A) Tightening of the chordae tendineae
B) Mitral regurgitation
C) Heart palpitation
D) Impending heart failure

Question 6

A client with an incompetent aortic valve leaks blood backward into the left ventricle. What does this backflow cause in the left ventricle?

A) Hypovolemia
B) Hypervolemia
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Hyponatremia

Question 7

The nurse is caring for a client with a valvular disorder of the heart. What intervention should the nurse perform before administering the prescribed beta blockers to clients with valvular disorders of the heart?

A) Monitor the prothrombin time.
B) Monitor for episodes of bleeding.
C) Take the client's apical pulse.
D) Monitor for bluish discoloration of the palms.

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a client with a valvular disorder. The client is at risk for decreased cardiac output. What nursing intervention should a nurse perform for this client?

A) Perform exercises consistently.
B) Keep legs horizontal.
C) Auscultate lung and heart sounds.
D) Measure urine output.

Question 9

The nursing instructor is discussing the care of clients with valvular disorders. What nursing interventions would the instructor explain to the students are appropriate when a client with a valvular disorder of the heart is receiving oral anticoagulant therapy?

A) Monitor for adverse symptoms.
B) Monitor prothrombin time (PT).
C) Monitor the client's blood pressure (BP).
D) Observe symptoms of cinchonism.

Question 10

A client with aortic valve regurgitation is asking about their disease process. What would you, as the nurse, tell the client is the first sign of aortic valve regurgitation?

A) Tachycardia
B) Left-sided heart failure
C) Pain
D) Dysrhythmias

Question 11

You are doing discharge teaching with a client who has a diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse. What would be important to include in your teaching to prevent tachycardia and heart palpitations?

A) Avoid coffee.
B) Increase fluid intake.
C) Maintain adequate sodium intake.
D) Avoid strenuous activities.

Question 12

You are caring for a client with a valvular disorder. What nutritional intervention would be appropriate for a client with a valvular disorder?

A) Limit sodium intake
B) Eat six small meals a day
C) Limit caloric intake to maintain optimal weight
D) Increase intake of B and C vitamins

Question 13

Your client is scheduled for a percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. The client asks you how long it takes for the opening to close after the procedure. What would be your best response?

A) Within 1 week
B) Within 1 month
C) Within 6 months
D) Within 1 year

Question 14

Your client is complaining of severe dizziness and drowsiness. On assessment, you find the client has bradycardia and a bluish discoloration of the palms and fingernails. What do these signs and symptoms indicate?

A) Cinchonism
B) Overdosage
C) Hypokalemia
D) Hypertension

Question 15

You are teaching a class of junior nursing students about valvular disease of the heart. What would you tell them is a symptom of aortic stenosis that is also a symptom of other valvular disorders?

A) Fatigue
B) Palpitations
C) Pain

Question 16

What is the best technique to identify structural changes in the mitral valve?

A) Chest radiography
B) Cardiac catheterization
C) Transthoracic echocardiogram
D) Cardiac stress test

Question 17

A student nurse is caring for a client with mitral valve prolapse. The client's treatment is not working. The client asks you what would be the last treatment the physician would try. What would be your best response?

A) Cardiac catheterization
B) Balloon angiography
C) MRI
D) Valve replacement

Question 18

You are a clinic nurse caring for a client with a suspected valvular disorder of the heart. The client is suspected of having ventricular enlargement. What diagnostic test would be used to confirm a diagnosis of ventricular enlargement?

A) Chest radiograph
B) Complete blood count
C) Cardiac enzyme blood test
D) Balloon angiography

Question 19

A nurse is teaching a client with mitral stenosis. What is appropriate client education for the nurse to give to a client with mitral stenosis who is dyspneic at night?

A) Sleep during the day.
B) Take prescribed sleeping pills.
C) Sleep in a sitting position.
D) Sleep in a flat position with face parallel to the ceiling.

Question 20

You are caring for a 77-year-old male newly diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis. The client tells you he has never been sick before and wants to know what has caused his problem. What is the best response to this client?

A) "It just happens sometimes."
B) "Aortic valve stenosis comes before a heart attack."
C) "Aortic valve stenosis is an age-related degenerative change from progressive calcium deposits."
D) "Aortic valve stenosis has no known etiology."

Question 21

Aortic stenosis remains asymptomatic for several decades. However, once a client becomes symptomatic for aortic stenosis, life expectancy without further treatment is only 2 to 3 years. What is the treatment of choice for symptomatic aortic stenosis?

A) Balloon angioplasty
B) Balloon valvuloplasty
C) Cardiac catheterization
D) Cardiac graft procedure

Question 22

You are a case manager working with a group of clients with valvular disorders of the heart. You are teaching the clients about cardiac drugs. Which drugs would you teach your clients control tachydysrhythmias? Select all that apply.

A) Beta blockers
B) Calcium channel blockers
C) Anti-arrhythmics
D) Cardiac glycosides
E) Anti-hypertensives

Question 23

Your client has been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse syndrome. What is an important subject to include in the client's teaching?

A) Decrease in activity level
B) Nutrition
C) Restriction of alcohol
D) Cessation of chewing tobacco

Question 24

A client with mitral valve prolapse often only needs periodic antibiotic therapy. If symptoms become severe, what might be suggested as treatment?

A) Valve replacement
B) Balloon angiography
C) Stent placement
D) Anticoagulant therapy