NURS 3100 Exam 1 Practice

The patient is having chest pain and the physician orders sublingual nitroglycerine STAT. The nurse administers it 30 minutes later. Which statement best describes the nurse's action?

1. The medication should have been administered immediately.

2. The medication should have been administered within a 5-minute time frame.

3. The nurse’s action was correct because the medication was not on the unit.

4. The physician should have specified the time frame for the medication.

The correct answer is: The medication should have been administered immediately.

The correct answer is A. Sublingual nitroglycerine is a medication used for the immediate relief of chest pain or angina. It works by dilating the blood vessels around the heart to improve blood flow. In a situation where a patient is experiencing chest pain and the medication is ordered STAT (which stands for "immediately" in medical terminology), it is crucial to administer it promptly to provide relief and prevent potential complications. Therefore, in this scenario, the nurse should have administered the sublingual nitroglycerine immediately after receiving the order to ensure its effectiveness in managing the patient's chest pain. Options B, C, and D are not the best choices for this scenario: B. Waiting for a 5-minute window to administer the medication could be detrimental for a patient experiencing chest pain, as prompt intervention is essential. C. Whether the medication was or was not on the unit does not justify the delay in administration, as the nurse should have obtained it promptly once the order was given. D. While it is helpful for physicians to specify time frames for medications, in the case of a STAT order, it is implied that the medication needs to be given immediately without further delay.