A nurse is caring for a client who came to the emergency department reporting chest pain. The provider suspects a myocardial infarction. While waiting for the troponin levels report, the client asks what this blood test will show.
Which of the following explanations should the nurse provide to the client?
Troponin is an enzyme that indicates damage to brain, heart, and skeletal muscle tissues.
Troponin is a heart muscle protein that appears in the bloodstream when there is damage to the heart.
Troponin is a protein that helps transport oxygen throughout the body.
Troponin is a lipid whose levels reflect the risk for coronary artery disease.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice a) is incorrect because troponin is not an enzyme, but a protein. Enzymes are molecules that speed up chemical reactions in the body. Troponin does not have this function.
Choice b) is correct because troponin is a protein that binds to calcium and regulates the contraction of heart muscle fibers. When the heart muscle is injured, such as in a myocardial infarction, troponin leaks into the bloodstream and can be detected by a blood test. The higher the level of troponin, the more severe the damage to the heart.
Choice c) is incorrect because troponin does not help transport oxygen throughout the body. That function is performed by hemoglobin, which is a protein found in red blood cells.
Choice d) is incorrect because troponin is not a lipid, but a protein. Lipids are fats that are used for energy storage and cell membrane formation. Troponin does not have these roles.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because dabigatran does not affect the electrical activity of the heart or the conduction system. It does not slow down the ventricular response to the atrial impulses.
Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because dabigatran does not dissolve existing clots in the bloodstream. It only prevents new clots from forming.
Choice C Reason: This is correct because dabigatran reduces the risk of stroke in clients who have atrial fibrillation by preventing clot formation and reducing blood viscosity. Dabigatran is an anticoagulant medication that prevents the formation of blood clots in the heart and blood vessels. Atrial fibrillation is a condition where the atria beat irregularly and rapidly, which can cause blood to pool and clot in the heart chambers. These clots can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Dabigatran reduces the risk of stroke by preventing clot formation and reducing blood viscosity.
Choice D Reason: This is incorrect because dabigatran does not restore normal sinus rhythm in clients who have atrial fibrillation. It does not affect the heart rate or rhythm.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because shortening of P-wave duration is not a sign of hyperkalemia or its reversal.
P-wave duration reflects the time it takes for the atria to depolarize and contract.
Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because restoration of QRS complex amplitude is not a sign of hyperkalemia or its reversal. QRS complex amplitude reflects the voltage or strength of the ventricular depolarization and contraction.
Choice C Reason: This is correct because the reduction of T-wave amplitude is a sign of hyperkalemia reversal. T-wave amplitude reflects the repolarization or recovery of the ventricles after contraction. Polystyrene sulfonate is a medication that lowers the serum potassium level by binding to it in the gastrointestinal tract and excreting it in the stool. High serum potassium level, or hyperkalemia, can cause cardiac arrhythmias and ECG changes, such as peaked T waves, prolonged PR interval, flatened P waves, widened QRS complex, and ventricular fibrillation. By lowering the serum potassium level, polystyrene sulfonate can reverse these ECG changes and normalize the cardiac rhythm.
Choice D Reason: This is incorrect because the widening of the QRS complex is a sign of hyperkalemia, not its reversal. Widening of the QRS complex reflects the delay or impairment of ventricular depolarization and contraction.

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