Ch. 49 Antidysrhythmic Drugs
What should the nurse include in the discharge teaching for a patient prescribed amiodarone [Cordarone]? (Select all that apply.)
"Wear sunblock and protective clothing when you are outdoors." "Immediately notify your healthcare provider of shortness of breath, cough, or chest pain."
In what part of the conduction pathway in a healthy heart is the electrical impulse delayed to provide time for the blood to fill the ventricles?
AV node
A patient develops supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and is hypotensive. Which medication should the nurse anticipate will be administered?
Adenosine [Adenocard]
What is the most common sustained dysrhythmia among the U.S. population?
Atrial Fibrillation
The nurse is caring for a patient prescribed quinidine [Quinaglute] for a supraventricular dysrhythmia. What is a common adverse effect of this drug?
Diarrhea
Which medication is not associated with prolongation of the QT interval?
Diltiazem [Cardizem]
The nurse is planning care for a patient at risk for dysrhythmias. The nurse understands that the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST) confirmed which finding?
Dysrhythmias should be treated only when they are symptomatically significant.
In which situation is dronedarone [Multaq] contraindicated?
In which situation is dronedarone [Multaq] contraindicated?
The nurse is caring for a patient receiving amiodarone [Cordarone]. Which body system should the nurse assess for serious adverse effects of this medication?
Respiratory
The nurse is administering intravenous lidocaine [Xylocaine] to a patient with a ventricular dysrhythmia. What is the priority nursing intervention to prevent a potential complication with this drug?
Monitor the electrocardiogram (ECG)
Amiodarone [Cordarone] is prescribed for a patient with atrial fibrillation. What is the most important nursing intervention before administering this medication?
Obtain baseline serum thyroid and liver function studies.
The nurse is interpreting an electrocardiogram (ECG). Which component represents the depolarization of the ventricles?
QRS complex
A nurse is caring for a patient receiving dronedarone [Multaq] for treatment of atrial fibrillation. What electrocardiogram (ECG) change indicates an adverse effect of this medication?
The QT-interval measurement changes from 400 msec to 520 msec.
