When assessing a male patient in the telemetry unit who is experiencing persistent, crushing chest pain, which symptoms would lead the nurse to suspect a myocardial infarction?

Choice A rationale
While it’s important to inquire about an allergy to iodine in a patient who has undergone an angiogram, it’s not typically the priority for assessing and documenting for this patient after the procedure. An allergy to iodine would be more relevant before the procedure, as iodine-based contrast dye is often used during an angiogram.
Choice B rationale
Checking peripheral pulses in the affected leg is typically a priority when caring for a patient who has undergone an angiogram. This is because the procedure involves inserting a catheter into a blood vessel in the leg. Checking the peripheral pulses can help assess for potential complications such as a blood clot or decreased blood flow to the leg.
Choice C rationale
Monitoring for decreased blood pressure is important in a patient who has undergone an angiogram, but it’s not typically the priority for assessing and documenting for this patient after the procedure. While changes in blood pressure can occur after any medical procedure, other assessments such as checking peripheral pulses in the affected leg are typically more directly related to potential complications of an angiogram.
Choice D rationale
Tracking fluid intake is an important part of overall patient care, but it’s not typically the priority for assessing and documenting for a patient who has undergone an angiogram. Other assessments such as checking peripheral pulses in the affected leg are typically more directly related to potential complications of an angiogram.

Choice A rationale
While calf tenderness and swelling after a plane ride could potentially indicate a deep vein thrombosis, this condition is not immediately life-threatening in most cases. The patient would need evaluation and treatment, but other patients might have more urgent needs14.
Choice B rationale
A patient taking anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation who has black stools could potentially have gastrointestinal bleeding, which would need evaluation. However, this condition might not be immediately life-threatening, and other patients might have more urgent needs14.
Choice C rationale
A patient with a gangrenous foot ulcer and a weak pedal pulse would need evaluation and treatment. However, this condition might not be immediately life-threatening, and other patients might have more urgent needs14.
Choice D rationale
A patient reporting sudden sharp and severe upper back pain could potentially have an aortic dissection, which is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate evaluation and treatment. Therefore, this patient should be assessed first14.