What is the recommended monitoring action during a suspected cardiac event while awaiting ground guidance?

• A. Stop monitoring to reduce noise
• B. Rely on patient’s self-reported symptoms only
• C. Maintain continuous vitals monitoring and symptom observation
• D. Immediately administer antibiotics

Answer: (C)

In a suspected cardiac event, the priority is to maintain continuous vitals monitoring and symptom observation. Keeping real-time data on heart rate, rhythm if possible, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, breathing status, and mental status lets you detect changes early and report accurate information to ground medical support as guidance arrives. Stopping monitoring removes crucial data and could delay recognizing deterioration. Relying only on the patient’s self-report can be misleading, and antibiotics aren’t appropriate for a cardiac issue unless there’s a separate infection present. Staying vigilant with ongoing monitoring supports safe, informed decisions until ground guidance is obtained.