Final answer:
The immediate priority nursing diagnosis for a client with a suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction is 'Impaired gas exchange' due to the blockage of blood flow and lack of oxygen to the heart muscle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The priority nursing diagnosis for a client admitted with an Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) and exhibiting substernal chest pain with radiation to the jaw during the immediate 24 hours is C) Impaired gas exchange. This is due to the fact that during an MI, there is a blockage of blood flow to a part of the heart, leading to a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle and subsequent tissue death. The immediate concern is ensuring that the heart and the rest of the body receive adequate oxygen, which is impeded during an MI. Other diagnoses such as constipation, high risk for infection, and fluid volume deficit, while important to monitor, are not as immediate in priority as the impaired gas exchange related to the decreased cardiac output from the MI.
Acute myocardial infarction, also known as a heart attack, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is abruptly cut off, causing tissue damage.
This is usually the result of a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries. A blockage can develop due to a buildup of plaque, a substance mostly made of fat, cholesterol, and cellular waste products or due to a sudden blood clot that forms on the blockage.
Call 911 or local emergency services right away if you think that you or someone you know may be having a heart attack.