The patient receiving bosentan therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension presents to the emergency department (ED) complaining of dyspnea. Which nursing assessment is most important for this patient?

Jugular venous distention. The patient receiving bosentan for pulmonary arterial hypertension is at an increased risk for fluid retention and heart failure both due to the nature of the disease and the medication. This may lead to the patient’s symptom of dyspnea. The most important assessment of heart failure and fluid retention for the patient with dyspnea is jugular venous distention (JVD), because this alerts the provider to right ventricular failure and is the best indicator provided for worsening pulmonary hypertension. Although the patient’s weight and peripheral edema may speak to the patient’s fluid overload, JVD provides a clearer picture. The patient’s blood pressure is also an important measurement, but less so than JVD.

The patient receiving bosentan therapy for pulmonary arterial hyp...

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Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
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Category: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Difficulty: 9

Topics: Cardiovascular Respiratory Assessment Communication & Documentation Fluid and Electrolytes Medication and Blood Products Routes of Administration

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