ATI Capstone Adult Medical Surgical Assessment 2 Related

Review ATI Capstone Adult Medical Surgical Assessment 2 related questions and content

What is the priority action for a patient with chest pain from acute coronary syndrome?

  • A. Administer sublingual nitroglycerin
  • B. Check the patient's cardiac enzymes
  • C. Administer aspirin
  • D. Obtain IV access
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to administer sublingual nitroglycerin. This medication helps dilate the blood vessels, reducing the workload of the heart and improving blood flow to the heart muscle, which is crucial in the management of acute coronary syndrome. Checking cardiac enzymes (choice B) is important for diagnosing a heart attack but is not the priority over providing immediate relief to the patient's chest pain. Administering aspirin (choice C) is also important in acute coronary syndrome to prevent further clot formation, but it is not the priority action for immediate pain relief. Obtaining IV access (choice D) is necessary for administering medications or fluids; however, in this scenario, providing sublingual nitroglycerin for prompt pain relief takes precedence.