Your patient is a 62-year-old man with a history of heart disease. He is experiencing chest pain. Your first action should be to:

Your patient is a 62-year-old man with a history of heart disease. He is experiencing chest pain. Your first action should be to:
A . Place the pads for the automated external defibrillator on his chest.
B . Begin CPR while preparing the automated external defibrillator.
C . Ask him if he has taken his nitroglycerin, and if not, offer to assist him.
D . Place him in a comfortable position and administer high-flow oxygen.

View Answer

Answer: D

Explanation:

Your first action would be to administer oxygen and place the patient in a comfortable position; next, if not contraindicated, you would request permission to administer nitroglycerin. You should first obtain a set of vital signs to ensure he is not in cardiogenic shock. Never put defibrillator pads onto a consciouspatient with a pulse; this procedure is contraindicated. AED pads are not serving the same function as the electrodes used by ALS providers to monitor the heart rhythm.