The nurse is teaching a client with heart failure about diagnostic tes

The nurse is teaching a client with heart failure about diagnostic tests. Which test should the nurse emphasize in this teaching?

1. BNP
2. CBC
3. LDH
4. PKU

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: The specific blood test to detect and guide treatment for heart failure is the BNP test. B-type natriuretic peptide is secreted primarily by the left ventricle in response to increased ventricular volume and pressure.
Rationale 2: A CBC is a complete blood count, which includes hemoglobin and hematocrit measurements, erythrocyte (red blood cells) count, leukocyte (white blood cell) count, red blood cell indices, and a differential white cell count.
Rationale 3: This test measures the amount of the enzyme lactic dehydrogenase in the body.
Rationale 4: This is a test to assess for phenylketonuria in the newborn.