A patient enters the emergency department complaining of chest pain that is radiating down the left arm. The emergent treatment plan for this patient should include which nursing actions?

Question

Select all that apply.
1. morphine intravenously and oxygen
2. aspirin 325 mg orally
3. open heart surgery
4. heparin drip at 100 units per hour
5. Foley catheter insertion

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1, 2
Pain relief is vital in treating the patient with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Pain stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing the heart rate and blood pressure and, in turn, myocardial workload. Oxygen is administered by nasal cannula at 2 to 5 L/min to improve oxygenation of the myocardium and other tissues. Aspirin, a platelet inhibitor, is now considered an essential part of AMI treatment. A 160- to 325-mg aspirin tablet is given by emergency personnel, with the instructions that it is to be chewed (for buccal absorption). Open heart surgery may be indicated later. Heparin is not part of the admission protocol. A Foley catheter is not part of the admission protocol.