A client presents to the emergency department complaining of chest pain that began 2 hours earlier; the client's electrocardiogram (ECG) is consistent with acute myocardial infarction. The nurse would know that the standard treatment at this time is
A) diazepam.
B) lidocaine.
C) streptokinase.
D) verapamil.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Clinicians treat acute MI with medications that lyse (dissolve) the clot that forms part of the blockage of the coronary artery. Thrombolytic therapy includes streptokinase, urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA, alteplase), anisoylated plasminogen-streptokinase activator complex (APSAC, anistreplase), urokinase plasminogen activator, and the newest agent, reteplase. To qualify for thrombolytic agents, the client must present within 12 hours after the onset of chest pain, meet specific diagnostic criteria, and have no absolute contraindications for the therapy.

A Client Presents to the Emergency Department Complaining of Chest