A nurse on a telemetry unit is caring for a client who has unstable angina and is reporting chest pain with a severity of 6 on a 0 to 10 scale.The nurse administers 1 sublingual nitroglycerin tablet.
After 5 minutes, the client states that his chest pain is now a severity of 2. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Obtain an ECG.
Call the Rapid Response Team.
Administer another nitroglycerin tablet.
Initiate a peripheral IV.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice C rationale
Administering another nitroglycerin tablet is appropriate if the client's chest pain has not been fully relieved after the initial dose. Nitroglycerin helps to dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow to the heart and relieving angina. A second dose can be given if the pain persists, following the protocol for managing chest pain.
Choice A rationale
Obtaining an ECG is important for diagnosing and monitoring cardiac conditions; however, in this immediate context, further pain relief takes precedence. After ensuring pain relief, an ECG can be performed to assess the client's cardiac status.
Choice B rationale
Calling the Rapid Response Team is unnecessary if the client’s chest pain severity has already decreased. The priority should be to continue managing the chest pain with additional nitroglycerin if needed and monitoring the client's response.
Choice D rationale
Initiating a peripheral IV might be required for administering medications or fluids, but it is not the immediate action needed in this scenario. The priority is to provide additional pain relief with nitroglycerin.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Measuring blood pressure manually is important in assessing the patient's hemodynamic status, but it is not the priority intervention in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The priority is to address dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Choice B rationale
Administering intravenous fluids is the priority intervention for a client with DKA. Rapid, deep respirations (Kussmaul breathing) indicate severe metabolic acidosis and dehydration. IV fluids help to correct fluid deficit, improve perfusion, and decrease blood glucose levels.
Choice C rationale
Oxygen therapy may be beneficial if the client is hypoxic, but it is not the priority intervention for DKA. The primary issue is fluid deficit and metabolic acidosis.
Choice D rationale
Administering subcutaneous insulin is essential for managing hyperglycemia in DKA, but it should be done after initiating IV fluids to avoid rapid shifts in electrolyte balance.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Radiating pain to the left arm is a classic symptom of a myocardial infarction (MI) due to referred pain from the heart.
Choice B rationale
Shortness of breath can also be associated with MI but is not as specific as radiating pain to the left arm.
Choice C rationale
Headache is not a typical symptom of an MI. It is more commonly associated with other conditions.
Choice D rationale
Nausea and vomiting can occur with an MI but are not as specific as radiating pain to the left arm.
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