Questions: A nurse is caring for a client who has an increase in cardiac output. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? Increase in blood pressure Decrease in respiratory rate Decrease in heart rate Decrease in stroke volume

The answer is the first one: Increase in blood pressure.

Explanation for each option:

1. Increase in blood pressure: Cardiac output is the amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute. It is determined by the heart rate (the number of beats per minute) and stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped with each beat). An increase in cardiac output generally leads to an increase in blood pressure because more blood is being pumped through the arteries, increasing the pressure on the arterial walls.

2. Decrease in respiratory rate: There is no direct relationship between an increase in cardiac output and a decrease in respiratory rate. In fact, an increase in cardiac output might be associated with an increased respiratory rate, especially if the body is trying to meet higher oxygen demands.

3. Decrease in heart rate: Cardiac output is the product of heart rate and stroke volume. If cardiac output is increased, it is usually due to an increase in heart rate, stroke volume, or both. Therefore, a decrease in heart rate would not typically be associated with an increase in cardiac output.

4. Decrease in stroke volume: Similar to the heart rate, stroke volume is a component of cardiac output. A decrease in stroke volume would generally lead to a decrease in cardiac output, not an increase.

Summary: An increase in cardiac output is most likely to result in an increase in blood pressure, as more blood is being pumped through the circulatory system, raising the pressure within the arteries.