Family members bring a patient to the ED with pale cool skin, sudden midsternal chest pain unrelieved with rest, and a history of CAD. How should the nurse best interpret these initial data?
A) The symptoms indicate angina and should be treated as such.
B) The symptoms indicate a pulmonary etiology rather than a cardiac etiology.
C) The symptoms indicate an acute coronary episode and should be treated as such.
D) Treatment should be determined pending the results of an exercise stress test.
Ans: C
Feedback:
Angina and MI have similar symptoms and are considered the same process, but are on different points along a continuum. That the patient's symptoms are unrelieved by rest suggests an acute coronary episode rather than angina. Pale cool skin and sudden onset are inconsistent with a pulmonary etiology. Treatment should be initiated immediately regardless of diagnosis.
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