A nurse is assisting a patient with ambulation. The patient becomes short of breath and begins to complain of sharp chest pain. Which action by the nurse is the first priority?
a. Call for the emergency response team to bring the defibrillator.
b. Have the patient sit down in the nearest chair.
c. Return the patient to the room and apply 100% oxygen.
d. Ask a coworker to get the ECG machine STAT.
B
The patient is experiencing cardiac distress for reasons unknown. The nurse should first secure the safety of the patient and decrease the workload on the patient's heart by putting him in a resting position; this will increase cardiac output by decreasing after load. Once the patient is stable, the nurse can obtain oxygen to put on the patient. Next, the nurse can begin to monitor the patient's oxygen and cardiac status. If necessary, the emergency team may be activated to defibrillate.
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