The patient in the emergency department experienced an acute myocardial infarction (MI) 8 hours ago. The nurse is administering reteplase (Retavase) intravenously (IV). The patient asks the nurse what is being done. What is the best response by the nurse?
1. "This medicine is widening the arteries in your heart so they can get more oxygen."
2. "This medication is dissolving the clot that is causing your heart attack."
3. "This medicine is thinning your blood so more clots will not develop."
4. No response is indicated; the patient is past the time frame where thrombolytic therapy is effective.
Correct Answer: 2
Rationale: When treating myocardial infarction (MI), thrombolytic therapy is administered to dissolve clots obstructing the coronary arteries, thus restoring circulation to the myocardium. Thrombolytics dissolve clots in coronary arteries; they are not vasodilators. Thrombolytics are most effective when administered from 20 minutes to 12 hours after the onset of myocardial infarction (MI) symptoms; this patient is within the time frame. Thrombolytics dissolve clots in coronary arteries, they are not anticoagulants.
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