Question

The client with angina should be taught to take nitroglycerine sublingually with the onset of the first signs of chest pain. Which instructions should be included with your teaching plan? A. Take one tablet every 10 minutes until the pain subsides. B. If a burning sensation of the tongue occurs, stop the medication immediately. C. Keep the medication in the brown bottle to preserve the strength of the medication. D. Refill the supply of nitroglycerine every three months.

Short answer

A. Take one tablet every 10 minutes until the pain subsides. B. If a burning sensation of the tongue occurs, stop the medication immediately. C. Keep the medication in the brown bottle to preserve the strength of the medication. D. Refill the supply of nitroglycerine every three months. Answer: C. Keep the medication in the brown bottle to preserve the strength of the medication.

Step-by-step solution

Option A

Take one tablet every 10 minutes until the pain subsides. This option may not be entirely accurate. Generally, the recommendation is to take one tablet every 5 minutes, not 10 minutes, and if the pain does not subside after three tablets (i.e., 15 minutes), seek medical attention.

Option B

If a burning sensation of the tongue occurs, stop the medication immediately. The burning sensation under the tongue is a common side effect of nitroglycerine but is not a reason to stop the medication. It is not harmful and often indicates that the medication is working.

Option C

Keep the medication in the brown bottle to preserve the strength of the medication. This option is correct because light and moisture can break down nitroglycerine. The brown bottle helps protect the medication from exposure to light. It is also essential to keep the bottle tightly closed to prevent moisture from affecting the medication.

Option D

Refill the supply of nitroglycerine every three months. Although it's important to ensure a fresh and effective supply of nitroglycerine, the specific time frame of three months might not apply to every case. Expiration dates on the medication should be followed, and if the medication expires before the three months, it should be replaced. So, based on the analysis, the appropriate answer is: C. Keep the medication in the brown bottle to preserve the strength of the medication.