Question

The nurse working on the heart failure unit knows that teaching an older female patient with

newly diagnosed heart failure is effective when the patient states that

a. she will take furosemide (Lasix) every day at bedtime.
b. the nitroglycerin patch is to be used when chest pain develops.
c. she will call the clinic if her weight goes up 3 pounds in 1 week.
d. an additional pillow can help her sleep if she is short of breath at night.

Answer 1

Teaching an older female patient with newly diagnosed heart failure is considered effective when she states that she will take furosemide every day at bedtime, call the clinic if her weight goes up by 3 pounds in 1 week, and use an additional pillow if she is short of breath at night.

Step-by-step explanation:

When teaching an older female patient with newly diagnosed heart failure, the nurse would consider the patient's understanding to be effective if she states that she will take furosemide (Lasix) every day at bedtime. This medication is a loop diuretic that helps remove excess fluid from the body, which is important for managing heart failure. Option b, using the nitroglycerin patch when chest pain develops, is not an accurate statement for heart failure management. Nitroglycerin is typically used for chest pain related to coronary artery disease, not heart failure.

If the patient states that she will call the clinic if her weight goes up 3 pounds in 1 week, this is another sign of effective teaching. Weight gain can be an indication of fluid retention, which is a symptom of worsening heart failure. Finally, the statement about using an additional pillow to help with sleep if she is short of breath at night is also correct. This can help elevate the head and relieve breathing difficulties.