A nurse is caring for the client.

Exhibits

Select the 5 findings that indicate the client's condition has improved.

Rationale:

A. "I will remove gluten from my diet.": Gluten is unrelated to latex allergies. It is typically avoided in conditions like celiac disease, but does not cross-react with latex proteins and is not a concern for latex-sensitive individuals.

B. "I will remove peanuts from my diet.": Although peanut allergies are common, there is no significant cross-reactivity between peanuts and latex. Avoiding peanuts is not necessary unless the client has a separate peanut allergy.

C. "I will remove bananas from my diet.": Bananas contain proteins similar to those found in natural latex. Clients with latex allergies often have cross-reactive food allergies, especially to bananas, avocados, kiwis, and chestnuts this is known as latex-fruit syndrome.

D. "I will remove dairy products from my diet.": Dairy products are not associated with latex sensitivity. Removing them offers no protective benefit for clients with a latex allergy unless a separate dairy intolerance or allergy exists.

Rationale for correct choices:

• Administer oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula: The client's oxygen saturation has dropped to 92% on room air, indicating mild hypoxia. Supplemental oxygen should be administered to improve myocardial oxygenation and reduce ischemia while further interventions are being prepared.
• Administer sublingual nitroglycerin: Nitroglycerin is a first-line medication for chest pain caused by suspected myocardial ischemia. It promotes vasodilation, reduces myocardial oxygen demand, and provides symptom relief. Administering it promptly can help prevent further cardiac damage.

Rationale for incorrect choices:

• Request a prescription for an increase in statin medication: Although the client has hyperlipidemia, increasing the statin dose is not an immediate priority during an acute chest pain episode. Lipid management is important long-term but does not address the acute ischemic event.
• Prepare the client for cardiac catheterization: Cardiac catheterization may eventually be necessary, but it is not the nurse’s first action. The priority is to stabilize the client’s symptoms (oxygenation and pain) before preparing for any invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.
• Check a STAT cardiac troponin: Troponin has already been obtained and is within normal limits at this point. While serial troponins may be needed later, immediate nursing priorities focus on symptom relief and oxygenation rather than repeating the test right away.
• Request a prescription for a beta-blocker: Beta-blockers may be used in the treatment of suspected myocardial infarction to reduce heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand. However, their initiation typically follows pain relief, oxygenation, and diagnostic confirmation, not as the first nursing action.