A 45-year-old male is experiencing chest discomfort. After placing him in his position of comfort, your next action should be to:

When a patient is experiencing chest discomfort, it’s crucial to ensure that they receive adequate oxygenation, especially if there is a potential for myocardial ischemia or other cardiac-related issues. Administering oxygen via a nonrebreather mask at 15 L/min is an effective approach because it delivers a higher concentration of oxygen to the patient, significantly improving oxygen saturation levels.

The nonrebreather mask is designed to provide a tight seal around the patient’s nose and mouth, allowing for the delivery of approximately 90-100% oxygen when used correctly. This high concentration is beneficial in managing conditions such as chest pain, where oxygen demand may exceed supply.

In contrast, the other options do not provide the same level of oxygenation. For instance, ventilating the patient with a bag-valve mask could be appropriate for a patient who is not breathing adequately, but in this case, the patient is experiencing chest discomfort and may still be breathing adequately. Therefore, immediate ventilation may not be necessary.

Additionally, using a nasal cannula at 6 L/min delivers a lower concentration of oxygen (typically around 24-44%), which may not suffice for a patient in distress. Similarly, if the focus is solely on providing ventilation instead of enhancing oxygenation