Question

A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing an acute ischemic cerebrovascular event due to a thrombus in a cerebral vessel. Which of the following drugs should the nurse expect to administer?

A) Antibiotics
B) Anticoagulants
C) Antidepressants
D) Antihistamines

Answer 1

The nurse is expected to administer anticoagulants for an acute ischemic stroke due to a thrombus. Thrombolytic agents like tPA may be used quickly after the stroke to dissolve the clot and minimize brain damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should expect to administer B) Anticoagulants to a client experiencing an acute ischemic cerebrovascular event due to a thrombus in a cerebral vessel. Anticoagulants help to prevent further clotting and can aid in the prevention of additional strokes. In the case of an acute event, thrombolytic agents may be used as a first-line intervention to dissolve the clot, provided the stroke is indeed ischemic and not hemorrhagic. These agents must be administered within a specific time window, usually 3 to 4 hours, to be effective and to prevent permanent brain damage. Thrombolytic therapy involves drugs such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, the enzyme responsible for clot breakdown.