A client with a history of angina reports the onset of chest pain. The nurse determines that the heart rate is 104 beats/minute and the blood pressure is 138/86 mm Hg. A transdermal nitroglycerin patch was applied 30 minutes ago to the right upper chest. Which action should the nurse take?

A. Leave the patch in place and administer a PRN dose of sublingual nitroglycerin: It is appropriate to administer a PRN dose of sublingual nitroglycerin for immediate relief of acute angina while leaving the transdermal patch in place. The sublingual nitroglycerin acts quickly to relieve chest pain, while the transdermal patch provides a longer, more sustained effect. B. Reassure the client that the patch will begin to take effect within a few minutes: The transdermal patch generally takes 30 to 60 minutes to reach therapeutic levels, which is not suitable for immediate relief of acute chest pain. Therefore, reassurance alone may not address the current symptoms effectively. C. Withhold further doses of nitroglycerin until contacting the healthcare provider: Withholding further doses of nitroglycerin without assessing the situation can delay appropriate relief of chest pain. Immediate intervention is necessary, and it is appropriate to use sublingual nitroglycerin as needed. D. Obtain another transdermal patch and position it on the patient's left upper chest: Applying an additional transdermal patch is not necessary and could lead to excessive nitroglycerin exposure. The current patch should be left in place, and sublingual nitroglycerin can be used for acute symptoms.