Nokea
A nurse administers atenolol (Tenormin) to a client suffering an acute MI based on the understanding that this drug will result in which of the following changes in the client?
- A. Increase the heart's excitability
- B. Decrease the heart's workload
- C. Increase the heart's oxygen consumption
- D. Decrease heart rate
- E. Constrict blood vessels
Correct Answer: B,D
Rationale: Atenolol (Tenormin) is a b-adrenergic blocking drug. Blockade of b-adrenergic receptors results in decreased heart rate, dilation of blood vessels, a decrease in the heart's excitability, and a decrease in cardiac workload and oxygen consumption and provides membrane-stabilizing effects.
You may also like to solve these questions
A nurse is caring for a client with an arrhythmia. Which of the following would be most important for the nurse to do for a client with a life-threatening arrhythmia who is receiving an adrenergic blocking drug intravenously?
- A. Perform continuous cardiac monitoring
- B. Obtain pulse rate readings every 6 to 8 hours
- C. Assess respiratory rate every hour
- D. Obtain body temperature readings every 15 minutes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient with a life-threatening arrhythmia may receive an adrenergic blocking drug, such as propranolol, by the intravenous (IV) route. When these drugs are administered IV, cardiac monitoring is necessary. Patients not in a monitored unit are usually transferred to one as soon as possible. When these drugs are administered for a life-threatening arrhythmia, it is important to monitor the patient continuously with cardiac, blood pressure, and respiratory rate monitoring frequently.
A client is receiving nadolol as part of the treatment plan for hypertension. The client reports dizziness on standing. The nurse checks the client's blood pressure lying, sitting, and standing and notes a significant drop in the readings. When developing this client's plan of care, which nursing diagnosis would the nurse most likely identify?
- A. Risk for Injury
- B. Ineffective Tissue Perfusion
- C. Impaired Comfort
- D. Decreased Cardiac Output
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The client is experiencing orthostatic hypotension, placing the client at risk for falls and injury. Ineffective Tissue Perfusion would be appropriate if the client was experiencing more rapid changes in blood pressure and/or changes in pulse and heart rate. Impaired Comfort would apply if the client was complaining of other adverse reactions such as dry mouth or constipation. There is no information provided that would suggest decreased cardiac output.
A nurse understands that while most b-adrenergic receptors are found in the heart, they are also commonly found in which other organs?
- A. Pancreas
- B. Eyes
- C. Liver
- D. Lungs
- E. Skin
Correct Answer: B,D
Rationale: b-adrenergic receptors are also found in the eyes and lungs. The blockage of these receptors can be beneficial in treatment of glaucoma or cause adverse reactions in the lungs (bronchospasms).
The nurse should observe elderly clients taking metoprolol (Lopressor) for which of the following adverse effects as they are more likely to occur in elderly clients?
- A. Hyperglycemia
- B. Heart failure
- C. Peripheral vascular insufficiency
- D. Confusion
- E. Worsening angina
Correct Answer: B,C,D,E
Rationale: The nurse should observe elderly clients taking metoprolol (Lopressor) for confusion, heart failure, worsening angina, shortness of breath, and peripheral vascular insufficiency.
After teaching a group of nursing students about sympatholytic drugs, the instructor determines that the teaching was successful when the students identify which of the following as an example?
- A. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
- B. a-adrenergic blockers
- C. b-adrenergic blockers
- D. Angiotensin receptor blockers
- E. Loop diuretics
Correct Answer: B,C
Rationale: a- and b-adrenergic blockers are classified as sympatholytic drugs.