A home health nurse is assisting in the care of a client following a modified radical mastectomy. Which of the following statements by the client indicates effective coping?

A. Perform immediate defibrillation: This is necessary for ventricular tachycardia with a pulse if it is unstable, but first, assess the client’s condition.
B. Provide pulmonary ventilation: This may be required depending on the client's breathing status but is secondary to assessing the pulse.
C. Determine palpable pulse: This is the priority action. Determining whether the client has a pulse helps guide the next steps—if the client has a pulse but is symptomatic, treatment will differ from if the client is pulseless.
D. Begin chest compressions: This is done if the client is pulseless. If there is a pulse, other interventions are needed first.

A. "I will have hot, dry, and flushed skin if I am having a heart attack": This statement is incorrect as it does not accurately reflect typical symptoms of a heart attack. Common symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and possibly cold sweat, not hot, dry, and flushed skin.
B. "I will wait 30 minutes before taking action if I have heartburn": Waiting 30 minutes before taking action is incorrect for angina or heartburn. Immediate action is required for angina symptoms, and heartburn should be differentiated from angina by a healthcare provider.
C. "I will notify emergency response if I have sudden jaw pain": This statement is correct because sudden jaw pain can be a symptom of angina or a heart attack, indicating that immediate medical attention is needed.
D. "I will take four nitroglycerin sublingual tablets if I have chest pain": This statement is incorrect as taking four nitroglycerin tablets is excessive and could be harmful. The standard recommendation is to take one tablet every 5 minutes for up to three doses if chest pain persists, and then seek medical attention.