American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the AACN Certification Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What diagnostic finding is associated with NSTEMI?

Normal cardiac enzymes
Symptoms at rest relieved with rest
Cardiac enzyme elevation (troponin >0.08)
Bradycardia with ST elevation

The correct answer is: Cardiac enzyme elevation (troponin >0.08)

The diagnostic finding most commonly associated with Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) is an elevation in cardiac enzymes, specifically troponin levels. In the case of NSTEMI, the damage to the heart muscle from insufficient blood supply results in the release of troponin into the bloodstream. A troponin level exceeding 0.08 ng/mL indicates myocardial injury, which is a critical piece of evidence in diagnosing NSTEMI. Understanding troponin as a cardiac biomarker is essential, as it is highly specific to cardiac tissue and rises in cases of myocardial damage, making it an invaluable tool in differentiating NSTEMI from other conditions like unstable angina, where troponin levels remain normal. Normal cardiac enzymes would suggest no significant cardiac injury, which would not align with NSTEMI. Symptoms at rest relieved with rest often describe angina rather than the myocardial necrosis associated with NSTEMI. Bradycardia with ST elevation is more indicative of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) rather than NSTEMI. Thus, the elevation of cardiac enzymes is the hallmark finding that confirms the presence of NSTEMI.