Program


Nursing care in patients with nitroglycerin-induced headaches

May 24, 2024 from 11:15am MST to 11:30am MST

Symptoms of escalating chest discomfort for patients experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are often treated with sublingual, topical, or intravenous nitroglycerin. The urgency to vaso-dilate the coronary arteries to improve blood flow is the standard of care for all nurses working with a cardiac population.  However, when a nitroglycerin-induced headache develops, for some patients, a hesitancy to continue the nitroglycerin therapy can occur and the management of the escalating chest discomfort is now compounded with a need to manage the medication side-effects.  This presentation will provide nurses with a tool kit of pharmacological as well as non-pharmacological management strategies for the treatment of a nitroglycerin-induced headache.  A review of the literature was conducted to help explain why nitroglycerin therapy can have a debilitating side effect profile for some patients.  The literature search also included management/treatment options.  The implications for nursing practice are the importance of recognizing the signs of a nitroglycerin-induced headache and the nursing assessment and implementation of treatment options while managing high risk patients during an ACS event. 

Speakers / Panelists

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    Nancy Clark
    RN BA MN NP CCN(c)

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    Jared Sherrard
    RN