Your client is complaining of "sudden, crushing chest pressure", and is having difficulty breathing.
Her physician has ordered a STAT dose of nitroglycerin. When should you administer the medication?

Choice A rationale

Administering nitroglycerin on an as-needed basis for sudden, crushing chest pain is inappropriate because the immediate nature of the pain requires rapid intervention. Myocardial ischemia, often causing such pain, necessitates swift vasodilation to improve coronary blood flow and oxygen supply, preventing irreversible cardiac muscle damage. Delay can exacerbate ischemia.

Choice B rationale

Administering nitroglycerin on a prescribed schedule is typically reserved for prophylactic use in conditions like stable angina to prevent episodes, not for acute, sudden onset chest pain. This type of pain indicates an acute event, potentially myocardial infarction, demanding immediate action to mitigate cardiac damage through rapid vasodilation.

Choice C rationale

Administering medication at the earliest convenience is not appropriate for a STAT order in a patient experiencing sudden, crushing chest pain. "STAT" signifies an urgent need for the medication, indicating a life-threatening or rapidly evolving condition requiring immediate pharmacological intervention to avert significant physiological compromise.

Choice D rationale

Administering nitroglycerin immediately is crucial for sudden, crushing chest pain as it suggests acute myocardial ischemia or infarction. Nitroglycerin causes vasodilation, reducing preload and afterload, which decreases myocardial oxygen demand and improves coronary blood flow, thereby limiting cardiac damage and alleviating symptoms rapidly.