A patient reports that he has been having “indigestion” for the last few hours. Upon further review, the nurse suspects the patient is having chest pain. Cardiac biomarkers and a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) are done. What finding is most significant in diagnosing an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) within the first 3 hours?

Choice A reason: Fluid and nutrition support overall health but aren’t direct outcomes for peripheral perfusion in artery disease. Warm skin and palpable pulses indicate improved circulation, making this incorrect, as it’s not specific to the nursing diagnosis of ineffective tissue perfusion.

Choice B reason: Adequate urinary output reflects renal perfusion, not peripheral artery disease’s limb perfusion. Palpable pulses are more relevant, making this incorrect, as it does not directly address the peripheral tissue perfusion outcome in the client’s nursing care plan.

Choice C reason: Respiratory distress is unrelated to peripheral artery disease, which affects limb circulation. Warm, dry skin is a perfusion outcome, making this incorrect, as it does not pertain to the nursing diagnosis of ineffective tissue perfusion in the client’s extremities.

Choice D reason: Warm and dry skin indicates improved peripheral perfusion in artery disease, reflecting better blood flow. This aligns with nursing outcomes for tissue perfusion, making it a correct outcome the nurse would expect for the client’s peripheral artery disease management.

Choice E reason: Palpable peripheral pulses demonstrate effective blood flow, a key outcome for peripheral artery disease perfusion. This aligns with vascular nursing goals, making it a correct outcome the nurse would include for the client’s ineffective tissue perfusion diagnosis.

Choice A reason: Dry mucosa and thirst suggest dehydration, but hypotension (88/52) is more life-threatening. Low blood pressure requires immediate assessment, making this incorrect, as it’s less urgent than the nurse’s priority to address the client with critical hemodynamic instability.

Choice B reason: A blood pressure of 88/52 mm Hg in a client on IV diuretics indicates severe hypotension, a life-threatening condition requiring immediate assessment. This aligns with prioritization in acute care, making it the correct client for the nurse to assess first post-shift report.

Choice C reason: Nausea, vomiting, and cramps are concerning but less urgent than hypotension (88/52), which risks organ perfusion. Low blood pressure is critical, making this incorrect, as it’s secondary to the nurse’s priority of assessing the client with unstable vitals.

Choice D reason: Normal saline at 150 mL/hr with adequate urine output is stable. Hypotension (88/52) is more critical, making this incorrect, as it’s a lower priority compared to the nurse’s need to assess the client with life-threatening low blood pressure first.