Author Question: A nurse is giving aspirin to a patient during acute management of STEMI. The patient asks why a ... (Read 29 times)

lilldybug07 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A nurse is giving aspirin to a patient during acute management of STEMI. The patient asks why a chewable tablet is given. Which response by the nurse is correct?

a. Aspirin is absorbed more quickly when it is chewed.
b. Chewing aspirin prevents it from being metabolized by the liver.
c. Chewing aspirin prevents stomach irritation.
d. More of the drug is absorbed when aspirin is chewed.

Question 2

A nurse is evaluating a patient admitted to the emergency department with an evolving STEMI for possible administration of thrombolytic therapy.

Which information, identified during history taking, would contraindicate this type of therapy?
a. The patient just completed her last menstrual cycle.
b. The patient states that the chest pain started 1 hour ago.
c. The patient has a history of a small cerebral aneurysm.
d. The patient has hypertension that is well controlled by diuretic therapy.

ErinKing · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Aspirin should be chewed to allow rapid absorption across the buccal mucosa. Chewing aspirin does not affect hepatic metabolism, stomach irritation, or the amount absorbed.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Patients with a history of CVA should not receive fibrinolytic therapy. This patient has had a known cerebral aneurysm. Active internal bleeding is a contraindication for thrombolysis except for menses, but the patient has indicated she has completed her last cycle. Fibrinolytic therapy should be administered for chest pain that has been present for no longer than 12 hours. Poorly controlled or severe hypertension is a relative contraindication. Thrombolytics can be administered with caution.