Cardiovascular & Hematological
This medication should be withheld and the provider notified when a client's apical pulse is 56 bpm.
What is digoxin?
This medication class suppresses the cough reflex by acting directly on the cough center in the medulla.
This neurotransmitter is deficient in Parkinson's disease, resulting in tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia.
What is dopamine?
A patient taking lorazepam for anxiety reports drinking several glasses of wine each evening. This life-threatening adverse effect becomes the nurse's priority concern.
What is respiratory depression?
A nurse schedules a patient's twice-daily furosemide doses for 0900 and 2100. This adverse effect is most likely to occur and should prompt reconsideration of the schedule.
What is nocturia (sleep disruption from nighttime diuresis)?
This nursing teaching should be provided to a client experiencing dizziness when standing and nocturia while taking furosemide.
What is "change positions slowly and take the medications earlier in the day"?
Which class of medication works by increasing respiratory tract fluid secretions to thin mucus and make coughs more productive?
What is an expectorant?
A patient taking levodopa-carbidopa reports dark brown urine and sweat. This nursing action is most appropriate.
What is reassure the patient that this is a harmless medication effect?
This syndrome should be suspected in a patient taking sertraline (SSRI) who develops diaphoresis, tremors, severe headache, and autonomic instability after increasing their dose.
What is serotonin syndrome?
A post-operative patient receiving PCA morphine has a pain rating of 8/10, a respiratory rate of 8/min, SpO₂ of 88%, and increasing sedation. Despite the severe pain, this nursing action is the priority.
What is holding the morphine and assessing/treating respiratory depression?
This is the nurse's priority action when a client taking lisinopril (ACE inhibitor) develops swelling of the lips and tongue.
What is assess the airway?
This adverse effect can occur when topical nasal decongestants are used longer than recommended.
What is rebound congestion?
A patient with Alzheimer's disease develops fainting episodes and a pulse of 44 beats/min after starting donepezil (AChE inhibitor). This medication-induced complication should be suspected.
What is bradycardia (or heart block)? (due to increasing acetylcholine = increased parasympathetic side effects)
A patient taking phenelzine (MAOI) develops a severe headache and blood pressure of 220/118 after eating a charcuterie and cheese plate. This complication is occurring.
What is a hypertensive crisis?
A patient receiving erythropoietin (EPO) therapy develops calf pain and a rapidly rising hemoglobin level. This complication should be suspected.
What is thrombosis (DVT)?
This common medication class can increase the effects of warfarin and cause an elevated INR.
What are antibiotics?
These medications are preferred for daytime allergy relief because they have minimal CNS penetration and cause less sedation.
What are second generation antihistamines?
This chronic respiratory condition requires caution when administering acetylcholinesterase inhibitors because increased acetylcholine can cause bronchoconstriction.
What is COPD/asthma?
A patient taking amitriptyline (tricyclic antidepressant) reports dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and urinary retention. These symptoms are collectively known as these effects.
What are anticholinergic effects?
A patient receiving alteplase (thrombolytic) for an acute ischemic stroke develops a sudden decrease in level of consciousness. This adverse effect should be suspected first.
What is hemorrhagic stroke?
A client taking a statin who reports this symptom should be assessed first.
What is muscle pain (rhabdomyolysis)?
A patient with asthma reports using their salbutamol inhaler 4-5 times daily. Despite this, they continue to have nighttime coughing and wheezing several times per week. This medication class is most likely missing, underused, or ineffective in their treatment plan.
What is an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)?
This neurotransmitter imbalance is most responsible for seizure activity in epilepsy.
This type of anesthesia produces complete unconsciousness and requires ventilatory support because the patient cannot independently maintain their airway.
What is general anesthesia?
A patient states, “My depression isn't better after one week, so this medication must not be working.” This pharmacologic characteristic of SSRIs explains why the nurse should reinforce adherence.
What is delayed onset of therapeutic effect?