Calcium Channel Blockers review questions
A patient who is taking diltiazem asks the nurse, "Why do I need to weigh myself daily?" How should the nurse respond?
"Diltiazem can worsen heart failure, and weight gain is an indicator of worsening heart failure."
The nurse is providing discharge teaching for a patient taking a calcium channel blocker. What should the nurse include in patient teaching to decrease the risk of lightheadedness?
"Rise slowly from a sitting or lying position."
Verapamil is used to treat which conditions?
1. Angina 2. Cardiac dysrhythmias 3. Long-term high blood pressure
What are the priority teaching measures for the patient on verapamil?
1. Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are on verapamil. 2. Monitor blood pressure and heart rate regularly. 3. Swallow the extended-release verapamil tablets and capsules whole. 4. Seek immediate medical attention for confusion, profound dizziness, severe hypotension, and/or slowed heart rate.
What adverse reactions of amlodipine could Ms. Jones experience?
1. Flushing 2. Headache 3. Peripheral edema 4. Reflex tachycardia
What information should be included in discharge teaching for a patient on amlodipine?
1. Notify the health care provider if your ankles swell. 2. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking amlodipine. 3. Slowly rise from a sitting or lying position.
Which may result from abrupt withdrawal of a calcium channel blocker?
1. Rebound hypertension 2. Worsening tissue ischemia
Which interventions may decrease the adverse effects associated with calcium channel blocker therapy?
1. Rise slowly from a sitting or lying position 2. Consuming adequate amounts of dietary fluid and fiber 3. Consulting the health care provider prior to taking over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or herbal remedies
A provider has ordered long-acting diltiazem for a patient with angina pectoris. In order to monitor the effectiveness of diltiazem the nurse should complete which assessments?
Baseline data on frequency and severity of angina attacks
How does verapamil reduce the amount of oxygen required by the myocardium in a patient with angina pectoris?
By increasing coronary blood flow and decreasing after load
How do calcium channel blockers affect vascular smooth muscle?
Calcium channel blockers dilate vascular smooth muscle.
What should the nurse assess in a patient who is taking verapamil and digoxin to determine if the patient is experiencing a drug interaction?
Decreased heart rate
Nifedipine and amlodipine belong to which group of calcium channel blockers?
Dihydropyridines
Why must patients being treated with calcium channel blockers avoid consuming grapefruit juice?
Grapefruit juice can increase levels of select calcium channel blockers.
The nurse is providing patient teaching for a patient taking diltiazem. Which adverse effect does the nurse teach the patient may occur when a diuretic is also prescribed?
Hypotension
What side effect is more likely to occur with nifedipine?
Hypotension
A patient diagnosed with hypertension is placed on amlodipine. Why did the patient's health care provider order amlodipine as a daily dose?
It has a long half-life.
The nurse should use caution when administering calcium channel blockers to patients with which condition?
Mild heart failure
Which finding requires further teaching?
Ms. Jones reports eating grapefruit for breakfast each morning on her new diet.
A 52-year-old patient presents to the Emergency Department with a blood pressure of 230/118 mm Hg. The nurse anticipates which orders for a calcium channel blocker?
Nifedipine
Nifedipine and a beta blocker are ordered for a patient with newly diagnosed hypertension. The beta blocker was ordered to prevent which adverse effects commonly associated with nifedipine?
Reflex tachycardia
What adjustments in drug dosing need to be made when a patient is treated with both verapamil and digoxin?
The dose of digoxin should be decreased.
A patient with peripheral edema, secondary to malnutrition, has been ordered a calcium channel blocker for the treatment of hypertension. Why would a nurse question this order?
The pre-existing peripheral edema may worsen with the use of calcium channel blockers.
How do calcium channel blockers affect the myocardium?
They have a negative inotropic effect on the myocardium.
