A patient is seen in the emergency room for a myocardial infarction. The patient's chest pain began around 11 AM after doing morning chores. By 1 PM, the pain did not improve, so his wife drove him to the emergency room. The nurse anticipates that the physician will order:

Explanation

• Thrombolytic therapy can be given within 4 hours of the onset of symptoms. tPA is preferred over streptokinase because it is more specific to cardiac tissue

• Nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilator and its use in myocardial infarctions is to increase blood flow and oxygen to the myocardium

• Telemetry is standard due to the high rate of arrhythmias associated with myocardial infarctions

• Incorrect: A stress test is not indicated in the acute phase of a myocardial infarction, but rather afterward or when there may warning signs of cardiac risk to assess the functioning of the heart

• Incorrect: Atropine is indicated for symptomatic bradycardia

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