Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 81%
Simulated
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who is experiencing manifestations of a myocardial infarction (MI). Which of the following laboratory tests should the nurse expect the provider to prescribe?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
Troponin is the gold standard laboratory test for diagnosing myocardial infarction. It is a protein released from damaged heart muscle cells, and elevated levels indicate myocardial injury. Troponin levels are highly specific to cardiac tissue and remain elevated for several days after an MI.