Author Question: The patient in the emergency department experienced an acute myocardial infarction (MI) 8 hours ago. ... (Read 61 times)

CORALGRILL2014 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

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.

Question 2

The nurse has completed medication education with the patient who is receiving atenolol (Tenormin). The nurse determines that teaching is effective when the patient makes which statement?

1. I must avoid grapefruit juice when I take this medicine.
2. I must call my doctor if I want to stop this medicine.
3. I must check my pulse before taking the medicine, and call the doctor if it is less than 50.
4. I must take this medicine with food so it will be properly absorbed.

xMRAZ · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

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.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale: When beta blockers are abruptly discontinued, adrenergic receptors are stimulated causing excitation. This could result in tachycardia or myocardial infarction (MI). Atenolol (Tenormin) may be taken with or without food. Atenolol (Tenormin) is not metabolized through the CYP 450 chromosome system, so grapefruit juice is not contraindicated. Patients should check their pulse prior to taking atenolol (Tenormin), but they should call the physician if the pulse is less than 60, not 50.