Question

You respond to a medical call for a 59-year-old female complaining of tightness in her chest. You place her on a high concentration of oxygen and prepare for a short 5-minute transport to the hospital. The patient tells you she is on nitroglycerin, which she has not taken. Your partner tells you that you can give aspirin per protocol. Should you delay the patient transport to give the medication and why?

A. Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the blood vessels to dilate and restore some blood flow, and the aspirin will slow the clotting process.
B. No, any delay will cause the patient more stress; she needs to be in a definitive care facility.
C. Yes, the nitroglycerin will cause the heart to beat stronger and restore some blood flow, and the aspirin will ease the pain.
D. No, any delay will cause the patient more heart damage; each delay weakens the myocardium.

Answer 1

Administer aspirin per protocol to break up clots and prioritize transport to the hospital for nitroglycerin administration.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this situation, it is important to prioritize the immediate treatments for a potential myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack. Giving aspirin per protocol is a crucial step because it helps to break up clots that may be blocking the arteries and causing the tightness in the patient's chest. Nitroglycerin is also important in restoring blood flow as it causes the blood vessels to dilate. However, given the short transport time to the hospital and the fact that nitroglycerin has not been taken by the patient, it may be more appropriate to prioritize transport and administer nitroglycerin once the patient is at the hospital.