Final answer:
The nurse should administer tissue plasminogen activator to a client with an embolic stroke, as it can dissolve the blood clot causing the stroke if administered early.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse in the emergency department who is caring for a client with an embolic stroke should administer tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). An embolic stroke occurs when an embolus, often a blood clot, travels to the brain and lodges in an artery, blocking blood flow and leading to the death of brain cells due to a lack of oxygen. The administration of a thrombolytic agent like tPA, which catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin—the primary enzyme that breaks down clots—can help dissolve the clot and restore blood flow to the affected area of the brain. This intervention is crucial if given within 3-4 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms, significantly improving the patient's prognosis. Unlike tPA, the other medications listed, such as recombinant factor VIII, nitroglycerin, and lidocaine, are not appropriate treatments for an embolic stroke.