RN

My first response is always vital signs and to assess the patient and the nature of the pain (worsens with breaths, radiates, etc.), and consider whether there are any other things going on that may cause "chest pain" (laparascopic surgery and what not). Then go from there.

My first response was denial, but finally I went to a cardiologist.

assess! vital signs, description of pain, alleviating or worsening factors. The next step then depends on the setting. in the hospital: page MD, get EKG, is the patient prescribed nitro? At home: is the patient prescribed asa or nitro? then determine if 911 should be called or call PCPs office immediately ask for clinician on call who can help asap. the steps after assess really depend on the setting and situation (such as are there other signs of acute distress? are u on telemetry floor, in the ED, in the OR or are you in pt's home?). also look into your agency's protocol. Hope this helps a little.

For inpatient:

Quickly assess

Vitals

I would order an EKG and labs (RNs in my critical care unit can do this per protocol)

Page MD

I'4:01 pm by turtle0206

assess! vital signs, description of pain, alleviating or worsening factors. The next step then depends on the setting. in the hospital: page MD, get EKG, is the patient prescribed nitro? At home: is the patient prescribed asa or nitro? then determine if 911 should be called or call PCPs office immediately ask for clinician on call who can help asap. the steps after assess really depend on the setting and situation (such as are there other signs of acute distress? are u on telemetry floor, in the ED, in the OR or are you in pt's home?). also look into your agency's protocol. Hope this helps a little."

9:42 pm by Dranger

For inpatient:

"Quickly assess Vitals

I would order an EKG and labs (RNs in my critical care unit can do this per protocol)

Page MD"

I'm incredibly frustrated by posters who literally answer homework questions for first-time posters (those who join Allnurses.com in order to obtain easy answers to homework questions). Those who freely give answers to basic anatomy, pharmacy & nursing questions are doing so much harm to the student who is seeking the easy way out.

Those who seek & receive easy answers to their questions are learning nothing in the process and are literally being set up for failure in the future.

Those who seek & receive easy answers to their questions are learning nothing in the process and are literally being set up for failure in the future.

You could at least find out whether that is what's going on or not........possible that it's just a newer nurse making sure they made the right decisions. or just nervous about a hypothetical situation.

first response to chest pain conplaint

I'm both an RN and a Paramedic. Because I need further information from you about what you're looking for, I'm going go over here to the other side of the room, sit down, mediate a bit, possibly ruminate on something a bit... and ensure that I still have a pulse.

What I do and in what order kind of depends upon many factors. I need to know what you mean before I even come close to making any sort of response to the above.

Throw my hands in the air and run through the ER screaming "STEMI!!"

Throw my hands in the air and run through the ER screaming "STEMI!!"

Oh my.

You could at least find out whether that is what's going on or not........possible that it's just a newer nurse making sure they made the right decisions. or just nervous about a hypothetical situation.

Of course it could. So why not ascertain the poster's status/reason for asking before giving answers?

Gotta tell ya, though, that given the fact that OP joined just to post this "question" and the manner in which the "question" is phrased does not point to an actual nurse hoping for clarification of an issue. OP couldn't even be bothered to write a full sentence.

I'll never forget the recent new member who posted (in essence) "I don't have time to chat or introduce myself to you all, just give me the answers to my homework. And make it quick."