Author Question: A patient who is experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath is brought to the emergency ... (Read 110 times)

rl · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

A patient who is experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath is brought to the emergency department. The nurse assesses a heart rate of 98 beats per minute, bilateral lung crackles, and an oxygen saturation of 93.

What drug will the nurse expect to administer initially to this patient?
a. Albuterol
b. Aspirin
c. Nitroglycerin
d. Oxygen

Question 2

A woman is diagnosed with gonorrhea and receives ceftriaxone intramuscularly in clinic and a prescription for doxycycline to be taken twice daily for 7 days. She asks the nurse why she needs to take medicine since she has had a shot.

How will the nurse respond?
a. Both medications are required to fully treat the gonorrheal infection.
b. Doxycycline helps prevent spread of gonorrhea to your sexual partners.
c. Patients with gonorrhea are always treated for chlamydia as well.
d. The second medication decreases your chances of disease recurrence.

fur · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
The patient has signs of pulmonary edema, which can cause chest pain, crackles, and shortness of breath along with compensatory tachycardia and low oxygen saturations. The initial drug of choice is oxygen, which can minimize chest pain and open up the alveoli. The other drugs are given for specific underlying causes and may be necessary after the patient is evaluated further.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Patients with gonorrhea should be treated for chlamydia empirically. Doxycycline is used to treat chlamydia. Ceftriaxone does not prevent spread of gonorrhea to sexual partners or decrease the risk of relapse.