A nurse is assessing a patient with chest pain. Which action is most appropriate to determine if the patient is experiencing a myocardial infarction?

A. "You should change positions slowly." – Codeine is an opioid that can cause orthostatic hypotension, so clients should be advised to change positions slowly to prevent dizziness or fainting.
B. "You should limit alcohol intake to 12 ounces daily." – This is inappropriate. Alcohol should be avoided completely while taking codeine, as both are central nervous system depressants and combining them increases the risk of respiratory depression and sedation.
C. "You should take the medication on an empty stomach to prevent nausea." – Opioids can cause gastrointestinal upset, and taking them with food is often recommended to reduce nausea.
D. "You should expect to experience diarrhea while taking this medication." – Codeine commonly causes constipation, not diarrhea, due to its slowing effect on gastrointestinal motility.

A. Normal cardiac output with impaired filling ability of the heart – This describes diastolic dysfunction, which can be part of heart failure, but not all heart failure involves normal cardiac output.
B. Normal cardiac output with impaired electrical conduction of the heart –This describes cardiac arrhythmias or conduction disorders, not heart failure.
C. Decreased cardiac output due to impaired pumping ability of the heart – Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, resulting in reduced cardiac output. This can be due to systolic dysfunction (weakened contraction) or diastolic dysfunction (impaired filling).
D. Increased cardiac output due to excessive pumping ability of the heart – Heart failure is associated with decreased, not increased, cardiac output.