Final answer:
Morphine is the anticipated medication for a patient arriving with chest pain radiating to the jaw in the emergency department, as it alleviates severe pain and reduces both anxiety and oxygen consumption by the heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient arriving at the emergency department with chest pain radiating to the jaw may be experiencing symptoms consistent with angina or potentially a myocardial infarction (heart attack). For a patient with these symptoms, the nurse would anticipate administering a medication that not only reduces pain but also anxiety, while decreasing oxygen consumption by the heart. The most appropriate choice of medication, from the options provided, is morphine.
Morphine is a potent opioid analgesic often used in medical settings to alleviate severe pain, including the type of pain associated with cardiac events. Its use in such cases is due to its effectiveness in not only diminishing pain but also in reducing the workload of the heart by dilating blood vessels, consequently reducing oxygen demand. Other medications listed, such as codeine, Dilaudid (hydromorphone), and Demerol (meperidine), also have pain-relieving properties, but morphine is specifically known for its role in treating acute coronary syndrome and its implications in the cardiac care setting.