The nurse is administering nitroglycerin intravenously to alleviate chest pain. What is the therapeutic action of this medication?

Choice A rationale
Pericardiocentesis is a procedure that uses a needle to remove fluid from the pericardial sac. This procedure can be used to relieve pressure on the heart caused by a large pericardial effusion.
Choice B rationale
A pericardiectomy is a surgical procedure that removes part or all of the pericardium. It is typically used to treat constrictive pericarditis, not pericardial effusion.
Choice C rationale
Heart catheterization involves inserting a long, thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel and guiding it to the heart. It is typically used to diagnose and treat certain cardiovascular conditions, not pericardial effusion.
Choice D rationale
A thoracotomy is a surgical procedure to gain access to the chest. It is typically used for lung, esophagus, or other chest organ operations, not pericardial effusion.

Choice A rationale
Furosemide (Lasix) is a diuretic often used in the treatment of pulmonary edema to help remove excess fluid from the body. While it’s important to monitor the patient’s fluid and electrolyte balance, it’s not typically necessary to question this medication.
Choice B rationale
Captopril (Capoten) is an ACE inhibitor used to treat conditions like heart failure and high blood pressure. It can be beneficial in managing pulmonary edema by reducing the workload on the heart. It’s not typically necessary to question this medication.
Choice C rationale
Digoxin (Lanoxin) is a medication used to treat heart failure and atrial fibrillation. It’s important to question this medication before administration because digoxin has a narrow therapeutic index, meaning the difference between a therapeutic dose and a toxic dose is small. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure the patient’s digoxin levels are within the therapeutic range before administering more of the medication.
Choice D rationale
Carvedilol (Coreg) is a beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. While it’s important to monitor the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate, it’s not typically necessary to question this medication.