What should you do immediately after administering nitroglycerin?

After administering nitroglycerin, it is crucial to monitor the patient for changes. Nitroglycerin is often used to treat angina or chest pain and can cause several effects in the body. These include lowering blood pressure and alleviating pain. By closely monitoring the patient, you can quickly assess how they are responding to the medication and watch for any side effects or complications. This ongoing evaluation can help determine whether further medical intervention is necessary.

In addition to monitoring for changes in pain levels or discomfort, it’s essential to observe vital signs, particularly blood pressure and heart rate. The effects of nitroglycerin can vary from patient to patient, making vigilant observation critical to ensure their safety and well-being.

The other options suggest actions that may not be appropriate or could even be harmful. For instance, asking the patient to move around could exacerbate their condition. Checking blood pressure every minute might be excessive unless specified by a healthcare provider, as it may lead to anxiety for the patient and could also be logistically impractical. Providing food or drink is generally not advisable in emergency situations until a medical professional evaluates the patient, particularly if the patient is in distress or has altered consciousness. Thus, the correct course of action is to monitor the patient for