When should you reassess a patient after administering sublingual nitroglycerin?

• A. If pain relief is not achieved or if BP drops; reassess vitals and symptoms.
• B. Only if chest pain persists after 2 hours.
• C. Reassess vitals only after a long delay.
• D. Reassess only if the patient complains of headache.

Answer: (B)

After giving sublingual nitroglycerin, reassess the patient right away and again after each subsequent dose. Nitro can relieve chest pain quickly but can also cause a drop in blood pressure, so you want to confirm both pain relief and hemodynamic stability as soon as each dose is given. If pain persists or blood pressure falls, recheck vitals and symptoms immediately and adjust management accordingly. Waiting for hours to reassess is not appropriate because the medication acts within minutes and ongoing reassessment is essential for safe, effective care. Headache may occur as a side effect, but it doesn’t replace the need to monitor pain and vital signs.