A nurse at a provider's office receives a telephone call from a client who reports nausea and has unrelieved chest pain after taking a nitroglycerin tablet 5 min ago. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the nurse?
Advise the client to come into the office.
Advise the client to take an antacid.
Instruct the client to call 911.
Tell the client to take another nitroglycerin tablet in 15 min.
The Correct Answer is C
A. Advise the client to come into the office. The client needs immediate emergency intervention, not a routine office visit.
B. Advise the client to take an antacid. Chest pain unrelieved by nitroglycerin may indicate myocardial infarction; an antacid would not help.
C. Instruct the client to call 911. Persistent chest pain unrelieved by nitroglycerin warrants emergency attention due to potential heart attack.
D. Tell the client to take another nitroglycerin tablet in 15 min. The protocol allows taking an additional dose in 5 minutes, but emergency services should be called for unrelieved chest pain.
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Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Shortness of breath while lying down. Shortness of breath when lying down, or orthopnea, is common in left-sided heart failure due to fluid backing up into the lungs, causing pulmonary congestion.
B. Jugular venous distention. Jugular venous distention is more commonly associated with right-sided heart failure due to systemic venous congestion.
C. Right upper quadrant pain. Right upper quadrant pain is associated with liver congestion due to right-sided heart failure, not left-sided heart failure.
D. Pitting edema of the lower legs. Pitting edema is a symptom of right-sided heart failure, as fluid backs up into the peripheral circulation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Suggest that the client rests before eating the meal. Although rest can help with nausea, it does not address the potential issue of digoxin toxicity, which can cause nausea.
B. Check the client's vital signs. Checking vital signs, especially heart rate, is the priority because nausea can indicate digoxin toxicity, which affects heart function.
C. Request a dietary consult. A dietary consult may be helpful if the client continues to refuse meals, but it does not address the immediate potential for digoxin toxicity.
D. Request an order for an antiemetic. Although an antiemetic may help with nausea, assessing for toxicity takes priority.