Question

Nitroglycerin

what are the nursing considerations? ( this includes if administering IV push; What three factors must be considered, special circumstances such as the medication should not be given through two routes.)

Answer 1

Nitroglycerine mainly used to treat angina

Nursing consideration include

1. Use cautiously in patients with kidney or liver disease

2. Verify correct IV concentration and rate of infusion in infants and children with children

3. Check to see if the patient has transdermal patch or ointment in place before starting IV infusion, the patch is usually removed to prevent overdosage.

4. IV nitroglycerin is available in different concentrations, be attentive to the dilution, dosage and the direction for administration on each vial or ampule.

5. Non diluted nitroglycerine must be diluted in D5W or NS before administration.

6. IV dosage titration requires careful amd continuous hemodynamic monitoring.

7. Administer IV nitroglycerin with extreme caution to patients with hypotension or hypovolemia since the IV drug may precipitate a severe hypotensive state.

8. Monitor patient closely for change in levels of consciousness and for dysrhythmias.

9. IV nitroglycerin contains ethanol as diluent. Ethanol intoxication can develop with high doses of IV nitroglycerin.

9. Assess for headaches. Approximately 50% of all patients experience mild to severe headaches following nitroglycerin.

10. Be alert for overdose symptoms: Hypotension, tachycardia; warm, flushed skin becoming cold and cyanotic; headache, palpitations, confusion, nausea, vomiting,