A nurse is caring for a client who has angina and reports a feeling of heaviness in the chest while ambulating in the hall. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Rationale for correct choices:

• Administer oxygen at 2 L/min via nasal cannula: The client's oxygen saturation has dropped to 92% on room air, indicating mild hypoxia. Supplemental oxygen should be administered to improve myocardial oxygenation and reduce ischemia while further interventions are being prepared.
• Administer sublingual nitroglycerin: Nitroglycerin is a first-line medication for chest pain caused by suspected myocardial ischemia. It promotes vasodilation, reduces myocardial oxygen demand, and provides symptom relief. Administering it promptly can help prevent further cardiac damage.

Rationale for incorrect choices:

• Request a prescription for an increase in statin medication: Although the client has hyperlipidemia, increasing the statin dose is not an immediate priority during an acute chest pain episode. Lipid management is important long-term but does not address the acute ischemic event.
• Prepare the client for cardiac catheterization: Cardiac catheterization may eventually be necessary, but it is not the nurse’s first action. The priority is to stabilize the client’s symptoms (oxygenation and pain) before preparing for any invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.
• Check a STAT cardiac troponin: Troponin has already been obtained and is within normal limits at this point. While serial troponins may be needed later, immediate nursing priorities focus on symptom relief and oxygenation rather than repeating the test right away.
• Request a prescription for a beta-blocker: Beta-blockers may be used in the treatment of suspected myocardial infarction to reduce heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand. However, their initiation typically follows pain relief, oxygenation, and diagnostic confirmation, not as the first nursing action.

Rationale:

• Instruct client to avoid foods that have been fermented or aged: This dietary restriction applies to monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), not trazodone, which is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor (SARI).
• Encourage client to sleep until later in the morning: Oversleeping can disrupt circadian rhythms and worsen fatigue. A consistent, balanced sleep schedule is more therapeutic.
• Advise client to notify provider if pregnant: Trazodone is a category C medication and should only be used in pregnancy if the benefits outweigh the risks. The provider must be informed if the client is or may become pregnant.
• Encourage high-calorie finger foods: The client has experienced weight loss and decreased appetite. Nutrient-dense, easy-to-eat foods can support caloric intake without requiring full meals.
• Advise client to rise slowly from sitting position: Trazodone can cause orthostatic hypotension. Educating the client to change positions slowly helps prevent dizziness and potential falls.
• Encourage naps during the day when client is tired: Daytime napping can interfere with nighttime sleep and may reduce trazodone’s effectiveness in establishing a healthy sleep pattern.
• Encourage a regular sleep-wake schedule: Trazodone is often prescribed for sleep difficulties. A consistent routine supports sleep hygiene and enhances the medication’s effectiveness.