An 85-year-old male wakes up sweating and nauseated with vague chest discomfort. What should be your initial action?

In this scenario, the initial action of administering oxygen is appropriate due to the patient's presentation, which includes sweating, nausea, and vague chest discomfort. These symptoms raise concern for a potential cardiac event, such as myocardial infarction.

Administering oxygen can help ensure adequate tissue perfusion, especially if the patient is experiencing compromised cardiovascular function. In cases of suspected cardiac distress, supplemental oxygen increases the amount of oxygen available to the heart muscle and other vital organs, which may be deprived of sufficient oxygen due to reduced blood flow.

Oxygen therapy is a standard and important intervention in pre-hospital settings for patients presenting with chest pain or other signs of cardiac distress, as it can mitigate the risk of further complications while additional assessments and treatments are prepared or implemented.

Other actions, such as assessing for orthostatic hypotension, checking blood glucose levels, or assisting with nitroglycerin, may be necessary depending on the patient's overall situation and findings, but the immediate need to ensure adequate oxygenation makes oxygen administration the priority in this case.