Question

The nurse is discussing angina with a client who is diagnosed with CAD. Which action should the client take FIRST when experiencing angina?

a. Put a NTG tablet under the tongue.
b. Stop the activity immediately and rest.
c. Document when and what activity caused angina.
d. Notify the health-care provider immediately.

Answer 1

The client should stop the activity immediately and rest when experiencing angina.

Step-by-step explanation:

b. Stop the activity immediately and rest.

When experiencing angina, the initial step for a client diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is to halt the activity that triggered the anginal symptoms and rest. This action reduces the heart's oxygen demand, easing the workload on the heart muscle and potentially relieving the symptoms. It's crucial to avoid overexertion or continued stress on the heart during an angina episode. Once the person has ceased the activity and rested, they can then consider using nitroglycerin (NTG) under the tongue if prescribed. Documentation of the incident and notifying the healthcare provider are important but are secondary steps after managing the immediate symptoms by stopping the activity and resting.