A provider tells the nurse that a patient with a peptic ulcer is being placed on a protein pump inhibitor. Which medication would the nurse anticipate the provider ordering?

A. Cimetidine: Cimetidine is an H2 receptor antagonist, not a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). While H2 blockers like cimetidine reduce stomach acid, they are not classified as PPIs. B. Pantoprazole: Pantoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and is commonly used to treat peptic ulcers. PPIs work by inhibiting the proton pump in the stomach, thereby reducing gastric acid production, which helps in healing peptic ulcers. C. Famotidine: Famotidine is an H2 receptor antagonist, similar to cimetidine, and works by reducing acid secretion in the stomach. While effective for ulcers, it is not a proton pump inhibitor. D. Ranitidine: Ranitidine is also an H2 receptor antagonist, which works by reducing stomach acid but does not have the same mechanism as a proton pump inhibitor like pantoprazole.