Question

A client has driven himself to the emergency department. He is 50 years old, has a history of hypertension, and informs the nurse that his father died from a heart attack at age 60. The client has indigestion. The nurse connects him to an electrocardiogram monitor and begins administering oxygen at 2 L/min per nasal cannula. The nurse's next action should be to:

A. Call for the physician.
B. Start an IV infusion.
C. Obtain a portable chest radiograph.
D. Draw blood for laboratory studies

Answer 1

The nurse should draw blood for laboratory studies to promptly assess cardiac enzymes and other critical information that could indicate a myocardial infarction, given the client's symptoms and risk factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's next action after starting oxygen at 2 L/min should be to draw blood for laboratory studies. Drawing blood is critical for assessing the cardiac enzymes that can indicate a myocardial infarction, or heart attack. Given the client's history of hypertension and family history of heart disease, along with presenting with symptoms that may be mistaken for indigestion but indicative of a cardiac event, it is important to promptly determine the cause of his symptoms. Laboratory tests can provide valuable information regarding cardiac risk factors, such as elevated cholesterol or blood glucose levels, which can contribute to heart conditions.

Additionally, obtaining a baseline of electrolytes, red blood cell count, and other pertinent labs is important in guiding treatment decisions. While calling the physician, starting an IV infusion, and obtaining a portable chest radiograph are also important steps, drawing blood for laboratory analysis provides immediate data that can guide emergency treatment and is thus a priority.