What is an appropriate nursing action when a patient reports chest pain after starting a new med?

• A. Continue the medication as prescribed and reassess later.
• B. Administer a double dose to relieve pain.
• C. Stop the suspected medication if ordered, assess the pain, monitor vitals, and notify the provider.
• D. Label the medication bottle and return to pharmacy.

Answer: (C)

When chest pain appears after starting a new medication, the first priority is to address a potential adverse drug reaction or serious cardiac issue. The safest action is to stop the suspected medication (if there is an order to hold or discontinue), then assess the patient’s pain, monitor vital signs, and promptly notify the provider for further instructions. This sequence helps prevent further exposure to a possibly harmful drug while enabling timely evaluation for a cardiac event or drug-related reaction.

Continuing the medication or giving a double dose could worsen the patient’s condition, and simply labeling the bottle and returning it to the pharmacy does not address the immediate safety concern or clinical assessment needed.