Because the valves of the heart don't have their own blood vessels, white blood cells can't directly get there via the bloodstream. In addition, due to the lack of vasculature, if infection does occur antimicrobial medications may have difficulty reaching the infection.

Digoxin toxicity is often precipitated by low potassium levels (hypokalemia). Hypokalemia is a risk with the taking of loop diuretics such as Lasix, so monitoring of potassium levels should be performed to prevent digoxin toxicity. 

Epoetin alfa is used to treat anemia by causing bone marrow to produce oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Patients experiencing the therapeutic effects of the drug will have hematocrit in the range of 27-32%.

There is no need to place patient in high Fowler's this would probably put them at risk for orthostatic hypotension which is a common side effect of nitroglycerine treatment, as is a bounding headache. Giving oxygen, assessing blood pressure and giving nitroglycerine are all proper nursing interventions for angina.

It is important to note that an (ICD) does have the potential to set of metal detector alarms at the airport. The staff should be notified to fact to make accommodations for the patient. A hand held may be used but should not be placed directly over the implanted device. 

Patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction often take many new medications. It is important to adequately educate these patients on each of the side effects and dosing schedules of each medication. Digoxin is a fundamental drug in the treatment of heart failure. The maintenance dose of digoxin is essential to maintain optimal cardiac functioning and should not be missed. Digoxin may induce nausea and vomiting, and this should be communicated to the primary care provider so it may be treated. Among other essential heart failure medications are vasodilators and inotropic agents, as well as antihypertensive medications such as diuretics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors. Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide should be taken in the morning because they induce diuresis - this would disrupt sleeping if taken later in the day or at bedtime. Vasodilators such as nitroglycerin are essential to decrease afterload in the case of angina. Beta-blockers such as metoprolol are most effective when taken without food, such as before breakfast or at bedtime. Antihypertensive medications may also cause orthostatic hypotension, so it is essential for patients to change positions slowly.

The priority consideration for a nurse when a patient exhibits signs of a transfusion reaction include focus on the airway. Anaphylactic and hemolytic reactions diminish the ability of circulating blood to be oxygenated. The priority is to maintain a patent airway so circulating blood may remain oxygenated. After assessing the patient’s airway, the nurse should administer supplemental oxygen, stop the blood, give Benadryl (if it is an allergic reaction), and then notify the physician.

Weight gain is an early symptom of worsened congestive heart failure due to an accumulation of fluid in the vascular system that has not been diuresed. With fluid overload, the nurse should expect to see an increase in blood pressure, as well as tachypnea and tachycardia. Fluid overload may indicate a need for increased diuresis. Infants and children with congestive heart failure commonly demonstrate decreased appetites, so increased hunger would not be a negative sign.

Calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine cause side effects that affect the conduction of the heart. Other side effects include nausea, headache, rash, and gingival hyperplasia.