NRNP 6565 Week 4: Cardiac and Pulmonary Conditions

Cardiac and pulmonary conditions account for an overwhelming number of the annual deaths in the United States. Additionally, more than 1.5 million people suffer heart attacks and strokes each year, while hundreds of thousands suffer from a variety of other cardiovascular diseases. Infectious diseases such as COVID-19 present special dangers to high-risk, vulnerable patients. The good news is that medical science continues to make remarkable breakthroughs that offer hope in terms of prevention and treatment. Nurses and the teams with which they collaborate diagnose complex health conditions related to cardiovascular and pulmonary issues, and they work tirelessly to develop and administer treatment plans.

Despite the hope offered by new medications and treatments, patients typically experience stress and anxiety that compound their cardiac and pulmonary conditions. Nurses may use their compassion and expertise to help patients address the realities of their conditions and the requirements of their treatments.

Top 10 Causes of Death Annual number of deaths in the United States (2017 CDC data)

Heart disease 647,457

Cancer 599,108

Accidents (unintentional injuries) 169,936

Chronic lower respiratory diseases 160,201

Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases) 146,383

Alzheimer’s disease 121,404

Diabetes 83,564

Influenza and pneumonia 55,672

Kidney disease 50,633

Intentional self-harm (suicide) 47,173

This week, you examine cardiac and pulmonary conditions and complete a Knowledge Check on these topics. You also complete the first set of Comprehensive Practice Questions, which are designed to help you prepare for your licensure exam NRNP 6565: Synthesis in Advanced Nursing Practice Care of Patients in Primary Care Settings.

Reference:

National Center for Health Statistics. (2017). Leading causes of death. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Identify key concepts related to cardiac and pulmonary conditions

Demonstrate mastery of nurse practitioner knowledge in preparation for the nurse practitioner national certification examination