What nursing intervention is critical when a patient is experiencing chest pain?

Administering oxygen is a critical nursing intervention when a patient is experiencing chest pain, particularly because chest pain may often indicate a potential cardiac issue, such as myocardial infarction (heart attack). When the heart is under distress, it may not be getting enough oxygen, leading to ischemia and worsening pain or damage to heart tissue.

By providing oxygen, you can help improve the oxygen supply to the heart muscle, which may alleviate pain and prevent further complications. It's essential to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible and to support their body’s needs during this stressful event.

While reassuring the patient, limiting movement, and providing CPR can also be important in certain contexts (depending on the severity of the situation), the immediate administration of oxygen directly addresses the potential cause of the chest pain and is a standard practice in emergency settings.