ATI Nursing Specialty Related

Review ATI Nursing Specialty related questions and content

A nurse is caring for a client who came to the emergency department reporting chest pain. The provider suspects a myocardial infarction. While waiting for the laboratory to report the client's troponin levels, the client asks what this blood test will show. The nurse should explain that troponin is

  • A. an enzyme that indicates damage to brain, heart, and skeletal muscle tissues.
  • B. a protein whose levels reflect the risk for coronary artery disease.
  • C. a heart muscle protein that appears in the bloodstream when there is damage to the heart.
  • D. a protein that helps transport oxygen throughout the body.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is that troponin is a heart muscle protein that appears in the bloodstream when there is damage to the heart. Troponin is a specific marker for heart muscle damage, particularly seen in conditions like myocardial infarction. Choice A is incorrect as troponin is not an enzyme that indicates damage to brain and skeletal muscle tissues. Choice B is incorrect as troponin is not a protein whose levels reflect the risk for coronary artery disease; it indicates heart muscle damage. Choice D is incorrect as troponin is not a protein that helps transport oxygen throughout the body; its presence in the bloodstream is specific to heart muscle damage.