Final answer:
The correct instruction to give a patient before emergency transcutaneous pacing is that the device delivers a current through the skin which can be uncomfortable. This is different from the implantation of an artificial pacemaker.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient develops a third-degree heart block and is experiencing symptoms like chest pressure and shortness of breath, emergency transcutaneous pacing may be initiated. The appropriate instruction to give to a patient would be option D) The device delivers a current through your skin that can be uncomfortable. This is because transcutaneous pacing involves applying pacing pads to the patient's chest and back through which electrical impulses are transmitted to stimulate the heart to contract at a controlled rate. An artificial pacemaker, which may be referenced in future treatments and is different from emergency pacing, is a medical device that sends electrical signals to the heart to ensure efficient heart contractions and blood circulation. This is often needed when the heart's natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node, is not functioning correctly. A permanent pacemaker is inserted through a vein and positioned near the heart, but this procedure is not the same as emergency transcutaneous pacing provided during acute distress.