The nurse teaches a student nurse about diagnostic studies used for acute coronary syndrome. Which statement made by the student nurse indicates effective learning?

Among the four patients with hypertension, the nurse should assess the patient in option B first, the 48-year-old with a blood pressure of 160/92 mm Hg who reports chest pain.

Chest pain is a potentially serious symptom that could indicate an acute cardiac event, such as angina or a heart attack. Given that the patient has hypertension and is experiencing chest pain, the nurse must prioritize this assessment to rule out any cardiac-related complications or other urgent issues.

While all the other patients have elevated blood pressure readings, they have additional symptoms or conditions that indicate potential complications related to their hypertension. However, chest pain is a red flag that requires immediate attention and further assessment to determine its cause and provide appropriate interventions promptly.

Option A, the 52-year-old with a blood pressure of 198/90 mm Hg who has intermittent claudication, may have peripheral vascular disease or other vascular issues related to hypertension, but it is not as acutely concerning as chest pain.

Option C, the 43-year-old with a blood pressure of 172/98 mm Hg whose urine shows microalbuminuria, may have early signs of kidney involvement due to hypertension, which is significant and requires attention but may not be as immediately urgent as chest pain.

Option D, the 50-year-old with a blood pressure of 190/104 mm Hg who has a creatinine of 1.7 mg/dL, may have signs of kidney impairment related to hypertension, which is also significant but may not be as acutely urgent as chest pain.

In summary, the nurse should prioritize the assessment of the patient experiencing chest pain (option B) to address any potential cardiac-related issues promptly and ensure appropriate management and intervention.

When a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy develops new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) that has been unresponsive to drug therapy, the nurse should prioritize patient education about anticoagulant therapy. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of blood clots forming in the heart's atria due to the irregular and ineffective pumping of blood. These blood clots can potentially travel to other parts of the body, leading to serious complications such as stroke.

Anticoagulant therapy, also known as blood-thinning medication, is commonly prescribed for patients with atrial fibrillation to prevent the formation of blood clots. The most common anticoagulant prescribed for AF is warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, or edoxaban. The nurse should educate the patient about the importance of taking the anticoagulant as prescribed and the need for regular monitoring of clotting times (INR for warfarin) to ensure the medication is effective and the dose is appropriate.

While other options listed in the choices may be relevant in specific situations, the priority in this case is to address the potential risk of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation and the importance of anticoagulant therapy to manage that risk effectively.