A nurse is teaching a client who takes daily low-dose aspirin after a myocardial infarction. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
1I will take aspirin with food and report black stools, prolonged bleeding, or unusual bruising.
2I will ask the provider before taking ibuprofen, naproxen, or another over-the-counter NSAID.
3I will swallow an enteric-coated tablet whole rather than crushing or chewing the tablet.
4I will stop taking aspirin when my chest pain is gone because it is no longer needed.✓ Correct answer
Explanation
Low-dose aspirin is commonly continued for secondary prevention after myocardial infarction and should not be stopped without provider guidance, so option 4 requires further teaching. Taking aspirin with food may reduce gastric irritation, and bleeding should be reported. Other NSAIDs can increase bleeding risk and may interfere with aspirin's antiplatelet effect, so the client should consult the provider before using them. Enteric-coated tablets should be swallowed whole.
Clinical reasoning summary After myocardial infarction, low-dose aspirin is used for long-term secondary prevention. The client should not stop it merely because chest pain has resolved. Teach bleeding precautions, avoidance of unapproved NSAIDs, and correct handling of enteric-coated tablets.