You have been called to a residence for a complaint of chest pain. On scene you are met by the patient's husband who informs you that his wife suffers from anxiety attacks and that she received bad news tonight concerning her mother. This increased her anxiety, and now she just needs to calm down. He states that her doctor said the chest pain she gets is just a temporary response to the anxiety. Assessment of the 46-year-old woman reveals her to be extremely anxious and complaining of chest pain. In treating this patient, the EMT should first:

Question

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Before administering any medication or contacting medical direction, the EMT should assess the patient's vital signs, including monitoring her oxygen saturation levels and performing a 12-lead ECG if available. Based on her vital signs, the EMT can then determine the appropriate treatment, which may include administering nitroglycerin or contacting medical direction. However, it is important to note that chest pain should not be assumed to be solely due to anxiety without ruling out potentially serious causes, such as a heart attack.

You Have Been Called to a Residence for a Complaint