What must be done prior to defibrillating a patient who has a nitroglycerin patch on?

Removing the nitroglycerin patch prior to defibrillation is essential because nitroglycerin is a medication that causes vasodilation and can lead to hypotension. When a patient is defibrillated, the process involves sending an electrical shock through the body, which can create a risk of burns or skin irritation where the patch is located. If the patch remains on, the electrical shock can also potentially interact with the nitroglycerin, which could pose additional safety concerns during the resuscitation effort. Therefore, ensuring the patch is removed helps to minimize these risks and ensures a safe environment for defibrillation to occur.

While documenting medications and confirming last doses can be important in a broader clinical context, those actions do not directly affect the immediate safety and effectiveness of the defibrillation process.