Assessment of a Patient Nursing Practice Question
A client diagnosed with angina pectoris appears to be very anxious and states, 'So, I had a heart attack, right?' Which response should the nurse make to the client?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Angina pectoris occurs as a result of an inadequate blood supply to the myocardium causing pain; managing the condition will help address the client's pain. The nurse will want to correct the client's misconception regarding a heart attack while addressing the client's concerns. Option 1 does not address the client's concerns. Option 2 is not correct because angina involves interrupted blood supply but does not result in cardiac tissue damage. Neither the nurse nor the primary health care provider can guarantee that a heart attack will not occur as option 3 seems to indicate.