Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 94%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
A nurse is caring for a client with chest pain. Laboratory Results1300:
Cardiac troponin T less than 0.5 ng/mL (less than 0.1 ng/mL). LDL 110 mg/dL (less than 130 mg/dL).
Total cholesterol 230 mg/dL (less than 200 mg/dL).
A nurse is caring for a client with chest pain. After notifying the provider, the nurse should first:
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Administering sublingual nitroglycerin is the priority to relieve chest pain from myocardial ischemia by improving blood flow. Checking troponin is diagnostic but not immediate; it may not rise early. Beta-blockers prevent recurrence but don't relieve acute pain. Notifying the senior is unnecessary before administering nitroglycerin, assuming protocol allows.