A client who experienced an MI is prescribed beta-blocker medication. The client asks the nurse about the purpose of this medication. How should the nurse respond?
"Beta-blockers help dilate your blood vessels, improving blood flow to your heart."
"It reduces your cholesterol levels and prevents the formation of plaques in your arteries."
"Beta-blockers lower your blood pressure and decrease the workload of your heart."
"It prevents blood clots from forming in your coronary arteries and causing another MI."
The Correct Answer is C
A) This choice is incorrect because beta-blockers do not directly dilate blood vessels. They primarily work by blocking the effects of adrenaline on the heart and blood vessels, leading to decreased heart rate and reduced blood pressure.
B) This choice is incorrect because beta-blockers do not directly affect cholesterol levels or prevent the formation of plaques in arteries. Their primary action is on the cardiovascular system, particularly the heart and blood pressure.
C) This choice is correct. Beta-blockers are commonly prescribed after an MI to reduce the workload of the heart and lower blood pressure. By blocking the effects of adrenaline, they help slow down the heart rate and reduce the force of contraction, thereby decreasing myocardial oxygen demand and improving the heart's efficiency.
D) This choice is incorrect because beta-blockers do not directly prevent blood clot formation in coronary arteries. Anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications are used to reduce the risk of clot formation in individuals at high risk for recurrent heart attacks.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) This choice is correct. Administering sublingual nitroglycerin is the priority action during an angina episode. Nitroglycerin acts as a vasodilator and helps relax and widen blood vessels, improving blood flow to the heart and reducing chest pain during an angina attack.
B) This choice is incorrect because assisting the client to lie flat in bed is not the priority during an angina episode. The client should be positioned in a comfortable position that allows them to breathe easily.
C) This choice is incorrect because obtaining an electrocardiogram (ECG) is important for assessing the client's cardiac status, but it is not the priority during an ongoing angina episode.
D) This choice is incorrect because providing oxygen therapy may be beneficial if the client is hypoxic, but it is not the priority during an angina episode. The priority is to administer nitroglycerin to relieve chest pain.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) This choice is correct. The sudden onset of chest pain lasting for 30 minutes is a typical clinical manifestation of myocardial infarction (MI). The duration and intensity of chest pain are important indicators that suggest an acute cardiac event.
B) This choice is incorrect because chest discomfort lasting for a few days may be more characteristic of unstable angina, not an MI. Unstable angina is also a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention, but it is not synonymous with MI.
C) This choice is incorrect because chest pain that comes and goes, lasting only a few seconds at a time, is not typical of an MI. Such symptoms may indicate other non-cardiac conditions or stable angina.
D) This choice is incorrect because a similar episode of chest pain a few months ago is not indicative of the current acute event. The nurse should focus on the client's current symptoms and their acute presentation to determine the appropriate interventions.
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