A patient is experiencing severe chest pain and has a blood pressure of 104/76 mm Hg. Is it appropriate to administer nitroglycerin?

Administering nitroglycerin can be appropriate in this scenario because the patient's blood pressure is above 100 mm Hg, which is generally considered a safe threshold for the use of nitroglycerin. This medication acts as a vasodilator, helping to relieve chest pain, particularly in cases of angina or myocardial ischemia, by reducing the heart's workload and improving blood flow to the heart muscle.

The guideline threshold of 100 mm Hg is significant; administering nitroglycerin at lower blood pressures increases the risk of causing hypotension, which can worsen the patient's overall condition. Therefore, given the blood pressure reading of 104/76 mm Hg, the patient is stable enough to receive nitroglycerin, assuming there are no contraindications such as recent use of erectile dysfunction medications that would exacerbate the drop in blood pressure.

While other factors may need consideration before administration, such as the patient's complete medical history and any other medications being taken, the blood pressure reading alone provides a reasonable indication that nitroglycerin could be safely administered in this case.