A nurse is teaching a family member of a client who had an acute myocardial infarction (MI) about the reason for the frequent blood draws from the client. Which of the following statements is appropriate for the nurse to say when educating the family member about cardiac enzymes?

Choice A reason: Administering opioids is not the primary intervention for a restless client waking from a coma. Opioids may sedate but can depress respiration and mask neurological changes, complicating assessment of brain injury recovery. Reducing stimuli is safer to calm agitation without compromising neurological monitoring.

Choice B reason: Reducing stimuli is critical for a client with a traumatic brain injury waking restlessly from a coma. Excessive noise, light, or activity can exacerbate agitation and increase intracranial pressure. A calm environment minimizes neurological stress, supports recovery, and prevents complications like seizures or further brain injury.

Choice C reason: Applying restraints is not ideal, as they can increase agitation and injury risk in a restless brain injury client. Restraints may elevate intracranial pressure by causing stress or struggle. Non-restrictive measures, like reducing stimuli, are preferred to manage restlessness safely and effectively.

Choice D reason: Administering antihypertensives is not indicated unless hypertension is present. Restlessness in a brain injury client is likely due to neurological irritation, not blood pressure. Reducing stimuli addresses the cause directly, while antihypertensives may lower cerebral perfusion pressure, potentially worsening brain recovery.

Choice A reason: Cardiac enzymes, such as troponin, do not diagnose pulmonary congestion, which is assessed via imaging or clinical signs like crackles. These enzymes (troponin, CK-MB) are released from damaged myocardial cells during an MI, indicating heart tissue injury rather than lung-related conditions like congestion.

Choice B reason: Cardiac enzymes do not assess heart structure or valve mobility, which are evaluated using imaging techniques like echocardiography. Enzymes like troponin and CK-MB are specific to myocardial damage, rising in the blood post-MI to indicate the extent of heart tissue injury, not structural details.

Choice C reason: Cardiac enzyme tests, particularly troponin and CK-MB, measure the degree of myocardial damage after an MI. These proteins are released into the bloodstream when heart muscle cells die, with elevated levels correlating to the extent of tissue injury, aiding in assessing MI severity.

Choice D reason: Cardiac enzymes do not pinpoint the exact location of an MI. Localization is achieved through EKG changes or imaging like cardiac catheterization. Enzymes indicate the presence and extent of myocardial damage but lack specificity for identifying which coronary artery or heart region is affected.