Question

The emergency department nurse is assessing an 82-year-old client for a potential myocardial infarction. Which clinical manifestation does the nurse monitor for?

a. Pain on inspiration
b. Posterior wall chest pain
c. Disorientation or confusion
d. Numbness and tingling of the arm

Answer 1

The nurse should monitor for chest pain, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, sweating, anxiety, and fainting.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the case of acute myocardial infarction (MI), the nurse should monitor for a few specific clinical manifestations. One of the most common symptoms of MI is chest pain or pressure, which can radiate down the left arm in males. Other symptoms include difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, sweating, anxiety, and fainting. However, it's important to note that not all of these symptoms may be present in every case of MI.