Chapter 24 Adrenergic Drugs

A client is experiencing anaphylaxis. What drug will the nurse most likely administer?

epinephrine

A client with a history of allergies is prescribed an auto-injector for self-administration in case of an allergic reaction. The nurse understands that this device contains which drug?

epinephrine

A client has been prescribed 15 mg of metaraminol intravenously. The drug is available in 10-mL vials with a concentration of 100 mg. To meet the recommended dose, the nurse will administer ______ mL.

1.5 mL

Which client is most likely to benefit from the administration of an adrenergic agonist?

A man who is in cardiogenic shock following a myocardial infarction

Which condition is treated with an adrenergic agonist?

Anaphylaxis

The nurse calculates the infusion rate for administering dopamine to a premature infant in the neonatal intensive care unit who is in cardiogenic shock secondary to a cardiac anomaly. What is the nurse's next priority action?

Ask another nurse to perform independent calculation.

A client goes to his primary care provider for a cut finger. The provider is going to put sutures into the tip of the client's finger. Lidocaine with 2% epinephrine is ordered verbally by the provider. What should the nurse do?

Ask if he really wants epinephrine in the lidocaine since he is working on the tip of the finger. The nurse remembers from her reading that epinephrine is contraindicated in fingertips.

Mrs. Kelly Johnson, aged 46, was admitted to the hospital due to prior myocardial infarction, or heart attack. The diagnostic test revealed that her heart was unable to pump enough blood to adequately perfuse the vital organs. What type of shock does she seem to have suffered from?

Cardiogenic shock

A client suffering an acute myocardial infarction may develop which type of shock?

Cardiogenic--obstructive shock

Which herbs has been removed from most weight-loss medications due to potential legal liability?

Ephedra

An instructor is preparing a teaching plan for a group of students about adrenergic agonists. Which would the nurse include as an alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonist?

Epinephrine

Which is an effect of epinephrine?

Increased heart rate

A client is administered epinephrine in conjunction with a local anesthetic. What effect will epinephrine produce?

Increased vasoconstrictive effects

Adrenergic medications such as epinephrine and dopamine are commonly used for in the treatment of clients in which treatment settings? Select all that apply.

Intensive care unit Dentist's office Emergency department

Epinephrine is contraindicated in clients with which diseases or disorders?

Narrow-angle (or closed-angle) glaucoma

A 16-year-old client arrives at the emergency department (ED) stung by a bee and used an EpiPen prior to arriving in the ED. The client is breathing well now. What would the nurse do next for this client?

Obtain from the client as much information about the bee sting and physical reaction to the sting as possible.

A client was brought by ambulance into the emergency department. The client appears disoriented, pale, tachycardic, and hypotensive. There is excessive bleeding from the head and bruises across the cheek and abdomen. What is the priority step in managing this client?

Provide basic life support while attempting to treat hypovolemic shock.

Which would a nurse expect as a possible adverse effect when administering a beta-specific adrenergic agonist? (Select all that apply.)

Restlessness Headache

A nursing student is to write a care plan with priority nursing diagnosis for the client who is severely allergic to bees. Which nursing diagnoses would be correct?

Risk for Allergic Response

When describing the adrenergic branch of the autonomic nervous system to a group of nursing students, the instructor would also refer to it as which type of nervous system?

Sympathetic nervous system

Which condition is treated with an adrenergic agonist?

anaphylaxis

A priority nursing assessment for a client who is to receive an alpha- or beta-adrenergic agonist would be to which action?

assess heart rate.

In providing care to a client with wheezing, the nurse knows that a medication targets which receptors?

beta 2

A client is admitted to the emergency department with signs and symptoms of cardiogenic shock. Isoproterenol is administered intravenously. What assessment should the nurse prioritize when monitoring for therapeutic effects?

blood pressure

Epinephrine causes relaxation of

bronchioles

Epinephrine causes relaxation of:

bronchioles.

A client receives a beta-specific agonist. What would lead the nurse to determine that the drug is effective?

bronchodilation

A client with significant burns develops shock and requires adrenergic drug therapy. The nurse interprets this as which type of shock?

hypovolemic

When administering an adrenergic drug, a nurse understands that which is the primary neurotransmitter of the sympathetic nervous system?

norepinephrine

Treatment with norepinephrine in a client diagnosed with hypotension has been unsuccessful. What second-line vasopressors would the nurse suspect the health care provider might prescribe? Select all that apply.

phenylephrine vasopressin epinephrine

The nurse is transcribing new orders for sympathomimetic medications prescribed for a geriatric client. What should the nurse expect the dosage to be

the lowest possible effective dosage

The nurse is transcribing new orders for sympathomimetic medications prescribed for a geriatric client. What should the nurse expect the dosage to be?

the lowest possible effective dosage

Mrs. Kelly Johnson, aged 46, was admitted to the hospital due to prior myocardial infarction, or heart attack. The diagnostic test revealed that her heart was unable to pump enough blood to adequately perfuse the vital organs. What type of shock does she seem to have suffered from?

cardiogenic shock

The nurse is admitting a client with injuries following a bicycle crash. When reviewing the client's pre-admission medication regimen, the nurse reads that the client takes formoterol twice daily. When planning this client's care, the nurse should include:

frequent respiratory assessments.

A nurse in the intensive care unit is caring for a client in shock and has started IV administration of dopamine (Intropin). For a client in shock, dopamine helps to:

increase blood pressure.

An adrenergic drug would be prescribed to produce what physiological effect?

increased heart rate

The stimulation of beta1 adrenergic receptors in the heart by epinephrine would cause what result?

increased heart rate

Which of the following adrenergic receptors is responsible for increased heart rate and increased force of myocardial contraction?

β1 receptors

An 80-year-old client has been brought to the emergency department in shock. The client is receiving dopamine. The nurse should prioritize the assessment for what potentially serious adverse effect?

cardiac arrhythmia

The nurse is preparing to administer a sympathomimetic drug to a client. How does this drug achieve a therapeutic effect?

stimulating alpha- and beta-receptors

The adrenergic branch of the autonomic nervous system is also known by which name?

sympathetic nervous system

Drugs that produce activity similar to the neurotransmitter norepinephrine are known as which of the following?

sympathomimetics

Which adrenergic receptor is responsible for vasodilation of peripheral vessels and bronchodilation?

β2 receptors

A nurse is caring for a 25-year-old client who has been prescribed an adrenergic drug for shock. Which action should the nurse implement?

Continually assess the client for physiological changes and notify the primary care provider with changes.

Adrenergic drugs mimic the effects of stimulating what part of the nervous system?

sympathetic