JBL EMT Practice Exam

After assisting your patient with prescribed nitroglycerin, you should:

1. perform a secondary assessment before administering further doses

2. place the patient in a recumbent position in case of fainting

3. reassess his or her blood pressure within 5 minutes to detect hypotension

4. avoid further dosing if the patient complains of a severe headache

The correct answer is: perform a secondary assessment before administering further doses

After assisting your patient with prescribed nitroglycerin, it is important to perform a secondary assessment before administering further doses. This is crucial as it allows you to evaluate the patient's response to the initial dose and determine if another dose is necessary or safe to administer. Conducting a secondary assessment helps in monitoring the patient's condition, identifying any changes or adverse reactions, and ensuring that the intervention is appropriate for the patient's current status. Option B is not the correct choice because placing the patient in a recumbent position is not always necessary after administering nitroglycerin and would depend on the patient's condition and response. Option C is not the correct choice because reassessing the blood pressure within 5 minutes may not always be the immediate next step after giving nitroglycerin. While monitoring blood pressure is important, performing a secondary assessment to evaluate the overall response to the medication takes priority. Option D is not the correct choice because a severe headache alone may not always be a contraindication for giving further doses of nitroglycerin. It is essential to assess the patient comprehensively before deciding on the next steps.