A client with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is admitted to the emergency department. The healthcare provider orders fibrinolytic therapy. What is the primary purpose of fibrinolytic therapy in this situation?

A) This choice is incorrect because furosemide is a loop diuretic used to treat fluid retention and edema in clients with congestive heart failure (CHF), but it does not directly reduce myocardial oxygen demand.

B) This choice is correct. Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that reduces heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in decreased myocardial oxygen demand. It is often prescribed to clients with an MI and a history of CHF to improve cardiac function and reduce the workload on the heart.

C) This choice is incorrect because aspirin is an antiplatelet medication that prevents further clot formation and is commonly prescribed in clients with acute coronary syndrome, including MI. While it is beneficial in the context of MI management, it does not directly reduce myocardial oxygen demand.

D) This choice is incorrect because nitroglycerin is a vasodilator used to relieve chest pain (angina) by dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the heart muscle. While it helps reduce anginal symptoms, it does not directly reduce myocardial oxygen demand as metoprolol does.

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.