A client exhibits tachycardia, severe dyspnea, diaphoresis, crackles, and profuse, frothy pink sputum. What position should the nurse place the client in?

Choice A rationale
Administering Lasix (a diuretic) would not be the most immediate intervention for a patient experiencing increased chest pain after taking sublingual nitroglycerin. Lasix is used to treat fluid retention (edema) and swelling caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease, kidney disease, and other medical conditions. It works by causing the kidneys to get rid of unneeded water and salt from the body into the urine.
Choice B rationale
The most important nursing intervention for a patient experiencing increased chest pain after taking sublingual nitroglycerin would be to increase myocardial oxygenation. This can be achieved by administering supplemental oxygen and ensuring the patient is in a position that maximizes respiratory efficiency (such as semi-Fowler’s position). This intervention addresses the immediate life-threatening situation of myocardial ischemia.
Choice C rationale
Obtaining one hour of echocardiogram readings would not be the most immediate intervention for a patient experiencing increased chest pain after taking sublingual nitroglycerin. While an echocardiogram can provide valuable information about the structure and function of the heart, it is not the first step in managing acute chest pain.
Choice D rationale
Decreasing the patient’s anxiety is an important aspect of care, but it is not the most immediate intervention for a patient experiencing increased chest pain after taking sublingual nitroglycerin. The priority is to address the physical cause of the chest pain.

Choice A rationale
The diaphragm is not typically the location of a coarctation of the aorta. The diaphragm is a muscle that helps with breathing and separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.
Choice B rationale
The bifurcation into the common iliac arteries is not typically the location of a coarctation of the aorta. The common iliac arteries are located in the lower part of the aorta and supply blood to the pelvis and legs.
Choice C rationale
The aortic valve is not typically the location of a coarctation of the aorta. The aortic valve is located between the left ventricle of the heart and the aorta.
Choice D rationale
The ductus arteriosus is the correct answer. Coarctation of the aorta often occurs near the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel that connects the left pulmonary artery to the aorta.