A client is admitted to the emergency room with chest pain and a suspected diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Which test would the nurse expect the physician to order to make a definitive diagnosis of MI?

Choice A rationale

Checking the blood pressure is not the priority action in this case. The symptoms described may suggest compartment syndrome, which is a medical emergency and requires immediate intervention.

Choice B rationale

The correct action is to notify the health care provider immediately as this may indicate compartment syndrome, a serious complication that can occur after fractures and can lead to permanent damage if not treated promptly.

Choice C rationale

Assessing the incision for redness is not appropriate in this scenario as the symptoms suggest a more severe underlying issue such as compartment syndrome, which requires urgent attention.

Choice D rationale

Repositioning the leg may provide temporary relief but does not address the potential underlying issue of compartment syndrome. The priority is to notify the health care provider.

Choice A rationale

A puncture or rupture of the lung is typically associated with a pneumothorax, not flail chest. Pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and the chest wall.

Choice B rationale

The presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity is known as pneumothorax. Flail chest, however, is characterized by multiple rib fractures.

Choice C rationale

Flail chest occurs when multiple adjacent ribs are fractured in multiple places, creating a free-floating segment of the chest wall. This condition is serious and often results from blunt chest trauma.

Choice D rationale

The collapse of the lung is known as atelectasis or pneumothorax, not flail chest. Flail chest specifically refers to the detachment of a segment of the rib cage.