Question

The nurse is assessing a client admitted with a myocardial infarction with the following assessment: dyspnea, heart rate of 140 bpm, and crackles in the posterior chest. The nurse would interpret these findings as which condition?

1. a hypoglycemic reaction
2. cardiogenic shock associated with heart block
3. development of congestive heart failure
4. acute renal failure

Answer 1

The symptoms of dyspnea, high heart rate, and lung crackles in a patient with a myocardial infarction suggest the development of congestive heart failure, which occurs when the heart fails to pump blood effectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

The clinical findings of dyspnea, elevated heart rate at 140 bpm, and crackles in the posterior chest of a client admitted with a myocardial infarction (MI) suggest the development of congestive heart failure (CHF). These symptoms indicate that the heart is struggling to pump blood effectively, leading to fluid build-up in the lungs, which is characterized by the crackling sounds heard during auscultation. This condition is commonly associated with MI due to the damage to the heart muscle impairing its function. In contrast, a hypoglycemic reaction would not typically cause dyspnea or crackles in the lungs. Cardiogenic shock associated with heart block would likely present with a lower heart rate due to the heart block, rather than the tachycardia noted here. Acute renal failure could cause fluid overload, but it is not primarily associated with the immediate effects of MI leading to CHF.