[Verified Answer]: Cardiac Case Study: A 70-year-old woman…

Cardiac Case Study: A 70-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for evaluation of a syncopal episode. She states that most recently she has experienced generalized malaise, increased shortness of breath while at rest, and dyspnea following by periods of apnea and syncope. On clinical examination, the patient’s radial pulse was found to be irregular, and the EKG showed uncontrolled atrial fibrillation with evidence of a recent myocardial infarction (MI). Questions 1-2 relate to the case study. 1. If you were the healthcare provider having contact with this woman, (either to draw blood, take vital signs or complete an x-ray) what would you consider to be the most important in your approach to her, after you washed your hands and identified her?