A client admitted for evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) begins to complain of severe "heartburn" in the chest that radiates to the jaw. The client asks for the nitroglycerin (NTG) tablets brought in from home. The nurse realizes that the clinical manifestations demonstrated by the client are
A) classic manifestations of a myocardial infarction, and the physician should be paged immediately.
B) greatly influenced by fear related to the location of the pain, and the use of NTG should be discouraged.
C) indications that a thorough pain assessment should be done to determine the etiology of the pain, and the NTG should be given at once.
D) specifically associated with GERD and not myocardial infarction, but the NTG should be allowed if the client wants to use it.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Responses to pain-relieving measures (e.g., NTG) help to differentiate between esophagitis and problems of cardiac origin (e.g., angina pectoris). If the nitroglycerin does relieve the pain, the physician should be notified because the patient indeed may be having a cardiac event.

A Client Admitted for Evaluation of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)