Cholinergic
Describe the function of a parasympathomimetic drug.
What is stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system; induces a rest/digest response.
What is the primary use for giving a beta-adrenergic blocker?
Treatment of hypertension; can also be used for angina pectoris, migraines, and heart failure.
Your client is experiencing continuous muscle contractions for longer than 5 minutes. What type of seizure activity are they experiencing?
What is status epilepticus.
A client is prescribed a medication that can help with heroin dependence. Which medication is the client prescribed?
What is methadone (Dolophine).
Your client is being prepared for stitching of a small laceration on the forearm. What type of anesthesia would they likely be a candidate for?
What is local anesthesia.
What class of medications induces the following signs/symptoms: mydriasis, tachycardia, drying secretions, relaxing bronchi?
What is anticholinergics/parasympatholytics.
An older adult male is prescribed prazosin (Minipress). Describe the adverse effect which commonly causes a decrease in compliance in this population.
What is sexual dysfunction.
The parent of a child 3 years of age describes their child’s frequent behavior of “staring off into space” and being unresponsive to their attempts to gain the child’s attention. What diagnosis do you anticipate this child could be given?
What is absence seizures.
What is the most important question to ask your patient prior to administering a pain medication?
What is “what is your pain level on a scale of 0-10?”
Your client is being given another medication with a local anesthetic to enhance its’ effect. What two medications could this be?
What is epinephrine or sodium bicarbonate.
A client has overdosed on atropine. What medication will they likely receive?
What is physostigmine; diazepam (Valium) can be given to control convulsions as well.
Describe the expected response associated with alpha1 receptor activation.
What is vasoconstriction and dilation of pupils; affects all sympathetic target organs except the heart.
Describe the primary concern regarding administering seizure medications which have a narrow therapeutic range?
What is monitoring blood levels; example of med with narrow therapeutic range is Phenytoin (Dilantin). Most concerning signs/symptoms include respiratory depression, CNS dysfunction, hypotension, dysrhythmias.
A client is prescribed naloxone (Narcan). What is the expected therapeutic response of this medication?
What is to reverse narcotic-related overdose.
A client has overdosed on isoflurane (Forane). What is likely the most significant symptom they are experiencing?
What is profound respiratory depression.
Describe the mechanism of action of bethanechol (Urecholine).
What is activates the parasympathetic nervous system; induces a res/digest response; effects are noted most in digestive and urinary tracts.
A client has been given a medication that has caused an increase in heart rate and increase in blood pressure. What type of adrenergic receptor was likely stimulated?
What is Beta1 receptor.
A 28 year old female client is prescribed valproic acid. What is an important client teaching point for this population?
What is discuss contraception due to pregnancy category of this drug. Spina bifida is a significant risk.
Describe the medication that would be most appropriate to prescribe a client who has recently developed severe, reoccurring migraine headaches.
What is Sumatriptan (Imitrex).
What is the most important question to ask your client prior to administering a general anesthetic medication?
What is “do you have a family history of allergic reaction to anesthesia?” This is assessing for risk for development of malignant hyperthermia.
What does the SLUDGED acronym represent and what does each letter stand for?
What is salivation/sweating, lactimation, urinary frequency, diarrhea, GI effects, emesis, decrease HR; represents cholinergic responses/adverse effects of cholinergic drugs.
A client has been prescribed phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) for nasal congestion and says to you “I think my wife takes this same medication for her high blood pressure”. What would an appropriate response be to this patient?
That is likely because it can be given for different indications based on which receptor it activates; alpha1 receptor activation causes nasal decongestion, increase in BP, and pupil dilation and alpha2 receptor activation causes decrease in blood pressure.
Ethosuximide (Zarontin) is a medication commonly given for _______ seizures. If it is abruptly withdrawn, ________ seizures may develop.
What is absence; what is tonic-clonic.
A client has been given an opioid analgesic for the first time, and upon reassessment you notice they are acting more lethargic than before. You assess their respirations and find they are breathing 14 breaths per minute. What is your priority nursing intervention?
What is continue to monitor the patient’s respiratory status, document assessment findings. Do not give additional narcotics. Narcan may be necessary if the patient’s respiratory status declines.
A client is being given succinylcholine (Anectine) just prior to their tracheal intubation procedure. What are the two major expected adverse effects?
What is respiratory depression and bradycardia.