A client is admitted to the cardiac care unit following a su…
A client is admitted to the cardiac care unit following a successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The provider prescribes an oral cardio-selective beta-blocker to be initiated within the first 24 hours of admission. What is the primary therapeutic rationale for introducing beta-blocker therapy at this stage of post-STEMI recovery?