Pills, Pumps, and Pulses
This medication is commonly given for chest pain and works by dilating the blood vessels.
What is nitroglycerin?
Before administering an antihypertensive, the nurse should routinely assess this vital sign.
What is blood pressure?
Furosemide belongs to this class of diuretics.
What are loop diuretics?
Aspirin works primarily by interfering with platelet aggregation.
What is an antiplatelet medication?
Your patient is prescribed nitroglycerin for angina. Before giving it, the nurse should assess this.
What is blood pressure?
This medication is a beta blocker that may be prescribed for hypertension, angina, and certain dysrhythmias.
What is metoprolol?
A patient taking metoprolol has a heart rate of 48/min. What should the nurse do?
What is hold the medication and notify the provider according to the medication order/protocol?
This electrolyte should be closely monitored in a patient taking furosemide.
What is potassium?
This medication is commonly used to prevent and treat venous thromboembolism and requires monitoring of aPTT when given by continuous IV infusion.
What is heparin?
Your patient takes digoxin. The apical pulse is 54/min. What should the nurse do?
What is hold the dose and follow the medication order/protocol regarding notification?
This medication increases the force of cardiac contraction and slows the conduction through the AV node.
What is digoxin?
A patient taking lisinopril develops swelling of the lips and tongue. What serious adverse reaction should the nurse suspect?
What is angioedema?
A patient taking furosemide reports weakness and muscle cramps. Which electrolyte imbalance should the nurse suspect?
What is hypokalemia?
This laboratory value is commonly monitored when managing a patient taking warfarin.
What is PT/INR?
A patient taking digoxin reports nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and seeing yellow/green halos. What should the nurse suspect?
What is digoxin toxicity?
This ACE inhibitor ends in "-pril" and requires the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia and cough.
What is lisinopril?
A patient taking an ACE inhibitor reports a persistent, dry cough. Which adverse effect is associated with this medication class?
What is an ACE inhibitor–associated cough?
The nurse should monitor this measurement daily to evaluate fluid status in a patient receiving a diuretic for heart failure.
What is daily weight?
A patient taking an anticoagulant reports black, tarry stools. What should the nurse suspect?
What is gastrointestinal bleeding?
A patient taking warfarin asks whether they should completely eliminate foods containing vitamin K.
What is maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K rather than suddenly increasing or eliminating it?
This medication is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) commonly used to treat hypertension and heart failure.
What is losartan?
A patient becomes dizzy when standing after starting an antihypertensive. What medication-related problem should the nurse suspect?
What is orthostatic hypotension?
A patient taking spironolactone should be cautious about consuming excessive amounts of potassium because this medication can cause this electrolyte abnormality.
What is hyperkalemia?
A patient receiving heparin develops a significant drop in platelet count. The nurse should recognize the possibility of this serious adverse reaction.
What is heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)?
A patient with heart failure takes furosemide, lisinopril, and digoxin. Today the patient has a potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Which medication-related concern is most important?
What is increased risk of digoxin toxicity/dysrhythmias associated with hypokalemia?