Question

1. The nurse is caring for someone in the CCU who has been admitted for unstable angina? The person is receiving Nitroglycerin 50mg/250ml D5W @ 30mcg/min.

1. How many ml/hr. will the person receive to receive 30mcg/min?

2. What is a special consideration in the administration of IV Nitroglycerin the nurse must know ?

3. What common side effect would the nurse expect to the person to experience while receiving this medication?

4. This person is discharged with a Rx for Nitroglycerin SL. How should the nurse instruct the person to use this medication if they experience chest pain? Be specific step by step

Answer 1

a, Dose X drug volume in ml X 60minutes/hr /drug concentration in mcg = ml/hr
change 50mg to mcg = 50000mcg
30mcg/min X250ml X 60 min / 50000 = 9ml/hr
a, check BP and pulse before administring medication, nitroglycerin may drop the blood pressure,
NTG IV infusion needs special glass bottle and Iv tubing to avoid the absorption of the medication.
Never discontinue the medication without doctor order that may increase pain and rebound hypertension.
If the patient has severe headache inform the doctor
Observe the patient carefully.
a, Patient may exposure blue color lips, palms, dark urine, breathing difficulty, fever, headache. rapid heart rate, sore throat, bleeding, weakness, dizziness, cold skin, vertigo
a, Advice patient to sit relax before taking this medication
Hold the packet upright close to your mouth and put the medication under your tongue and close the mouth and breathe normally through the nose
Allow the patient to take to dissolve completely.
do not rinse the mouth or spit for 5 minutes.
After taking this medication chest pain to resolve within 5 minutes if it continued after 5 minutes to call the doctor immediately.