Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

What conditions must be met before nitroglycerin can be safely administered?

1. Systolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg and heart rate between 50-100

2. Heart rate above 100 and systolic below 80 mmHg

3. Systolic blood pressure between 80-90 mmHg

4. No history of heart disease

The correct answer is: Systolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg and heart rate between 50-100

For nitroglycerin to be safely administered, it is essential that the patient's systolic blood pressure is above 90 mmHg and their heart rate is within a safe range, typically between 50 and 100 beats per minute. Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator, which means it relaxes and widens blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure. If the systolic blood pressure is too low, administering nitroglycerin can cause further hypotension, leading to potentially serious complications like shock or organ failure. Maintaining a heart rate within the range of 50 to 100 beats per minute is also important because very low heart rates can reduce cardiac output and might not adequately support blood flow, whereas excessively high heart rates can indicate a state of stress or other underlying issues that may complicate the patient's response to treatment. The other conditions mentioned are not appropriate for the safe administration of nitroglycerin. A heart rate above 100 and systolic blood pressure below 80 mmHg would place the patient at significant risk if nitroglycerin were given. Furthermore, systolic blood pressure between 80-90 mmHg is generally too low for administration, as it could lead to adverse reactions. Lastly, the absence of a