Station - Instructions for candidate
You are an intern working in the Emergency Department of a Perth metropolitan hospital.
Kosta Kostas, a 42-year-old sole parent, presented 90 minutes ago with chest discomfort that woke him from sleep. An ECG has been performed and blood tests sent; initial troponin is back. He has just told the nurse that he needs to go home to look after his two children, aged 6 and 9, who are alone in the house. The emergency registrar has asked you to speak with him before the second troponin result is due back.
Initial troponin I
0.15 mcg/L (upper limit normal 0.04)
ECG findings
New ST depression and T wave inversion in leads V1-V3
Your tasks are to:
- Explain to the patient why he has been advised to stay in hospital.
- Start the treatment he needs while you talk to him.
- Agree a plan with him.
- You do NOT need to examine the patient further.
- You do not need to write out prescriptions; say what you want given and the nurse will draw it up.
This is a 10-minute station, with 2 minutes of reading time.