Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN) Practice Exam

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In patients with NSTEMI, what is typically elevated?

Electrolytes
Cardiac biomarkers
X-rays
Blood pressure

The correct answer is: Cardiac biomarkers

In patients with Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI), cardiac biomarkers are typically elevated. These biomarkers, particularly troponin I and T, are proteins released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle is damaged. Their levels rise following myocardial injury, making them critical for the diagnosis and management of acute coronary syndromes like NSTEMI. While other options may have relevance in the overall evaluation and management of a patient with NSTEMI, they do not specifically indicate the presence of heart muscle injury. Electrolytes may be monitored in these patients, but they do not necessarily reflect the myocardial damage characteristic of NSTEMI. Imaging studies such as X-rays can be part of a broader assessment, but they do not provide direct information about myocardial injury. Blood pressure may exhibit variations depending on the individual's response to pain, anxiety, or other conditions, but it is not a specific indicator of NSTEMI itself. Therefore, the elevation of cardiac biomarkers is the most direct and relevant indicator of this condition.