A nurse is caring for a client who was admitted for atrial fibrillation rapid ventricular rate of 130 beat/min with confusion. The client's blood pressure is 87/50. What order should the nurse expect to receive from the provider?
Tell the patient to bare down
Administer Lidocaine drip
Administer Amiodarone drip
Administer a beta blocker
The Correct Answer is C
C. Amiodarone is a Class III antiarrhythmic medication commonly used for the acute management of atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular rate. It works by blocking multiple ion channels, prolonging the action potential duration, and slowing conduction in the atria and ventricles. Amiodarone is often used when other interventions such as vagal maneuvers or beta blockers are ineffective or contraindicated. In this scenario, where the patient is hypotensive and symptomatic, intravenous amiodarone may be administered to control the ventricular rate and stabilize hemodynamics
A. Bearing down, or the Valsalva maneuver, is a vagal maneuver that can sometimes help slow the heart rate in certain arrhythmias by increasing parasympathetic tone. However, it may not be effective or safe in all situations, especially if the patient is hypotensive or confused. In this scenario, immediate pharmacological intervention is likely needed to control the heart rate and stabilize hemodynamics.
B. Lidocaine is not typically used to treat atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular rate. Lidocaine is a Class IB antiarrhythmic medication primarily used for the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It is not considered a first-line agent for atrial fibrillation and may not effectively control the ventricular rate in this situation.
D. While beta blockers are commonly used for rate control in atrial fibrillation, they may not be the best choice in this scenario where the patient is hypotensive and symptomatic. Beta blockers can further decrease blood pressure and exacerbate hypotension, especially in patients with compromised hemodynamics. In such cases, other rate-controlling agents like calcium channel blockers or amiodarone may be preferred.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Pacemaker spikes before each QRS complex: This is the correct answer. In a client with a ventricular pacemaker, the pacemaker spikes should precede each QRS complex on the ECG strip. This indicates that the pacemaker is appropriately stimulating the ventricles to depolarize and initiate a heartbeat. The
presence of pacemaker spikes before each QRS complex signifies that the pacemaker is functioning properly and effectively pacing the ventricles.
B. Pacemaker spikes occurring after each QRS complex would suggest a malfunction or inappropriate timing of the pacemaker. In this scenario, the pacemaker would not be pacing the ventricles as intended. This would be an abnormal finding and would require further assessment and intervention.
C. Pacemaker spikes preceding each P wave would suggest pacing of the atria rather than the ventricles. This would indicate a different type of pacemaker (atrial pacemaker) or inappropriate pacing settings for a ventricular pacemaker. In either case, it would be considered abnormal for a ventricular pacemaker and would require evaluation and possibly reprogramming of the pacemaker.
D. Pacemaker spikes occurring with each T wave would be an abnormal finding and would suggest interference or oversensing by the pacemaker. This could lead to inappropriate pacing or dysrhythmias. It would require further investigation and correction to ensure proper pacemaker function.
Correct Answer is ["B","D","E"]
Explanation
B. This is an essential nursing intervention to ensure that the ventilator is delivering the appropriate settings as ordered by the healthcare provider. Ventilator settings may need to be adjusted based on the client's condition, so daily verification is important for patient safety and optimal ventilator management.
D. Pantoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor commonly used to prevent stress ulcers in critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation. It helps reduce gastric acid secretion and can prevent complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding. Administering pantoprazole as prescribed is an appropriate intervention to prevent complications related to stress ulcers in ventilated patients.
E. Elevating the head of the bed to at least 30 degrees is a crucial intervention to prevent ventilator- associated pneumonia (VAP) by reducing the risk of aspiration. This position helps promote drainage of oral and gastric secretions, reducing the likelihood of aspiration into the lungs. It's considered a standard practice in ventilated patients to minimize the risk of pulmonary complications.
A. Apply restraints if the client becomes agitated: While it may be necessary to use restraints in certain situations to ensure the safety of the client and prevent self-extubation or injury, they should be used judiciously and only when other measures to manage agitation have failed. Restraints should not be the first-line intervention and should be used in accordance with facility policies and regulations.
C. Repositioning the endotracheal tube to the opposite side of the mouth daily is not a standard nursing intervention. Once the endotracheal tube is properly positioned and secured, it should not routinely need to be repositioned unless clinically indicated due to complications such as mucosal irritation or tube displacement.
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