A patient who is experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath is brought to the emergency department. The nurse assesses a heart rate of 98 beats per minute, bilateral lung crackles, and an oxygen saturation of 93%. What drug will the nurse expect to administer initially to this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient is presenting with symptoms of respiratory distress and hypoxemia (low oxygen saturation). The priority intervention is to improve oxygenation by administering supplemental oxygen. Albuterol is used for bronchodilation in patients with asthma or COPD and is not the priority in this scenario. Aspirin is used to prevent clot formation in patients with acute coronary syndrome, but the patient's symptoms do not indicate this condition. Nitroglycerin is used to dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow in patients with chest pain from angina or a heart attack, but the patient's lung crackles suggest pulmonary edema rather than a cardiac event. Therefore, oxygen is the best initial intervention for this patient.

A Patient Who Is Experiencing Chest Pain and Shortness of Breath