Adrenergic Drugs
You are caring for a patient with cellulitis. You just gave him his first dose of the antibiotic Keflex. Shortly after, he becomes anxious with difficulty breathing. His oxygen level decreases and you note facial swelling. You prepare to give him what medication for an anaphylactic reaction?
What is epinephrine?
Your patient was started on prazosin for their blood pressure. What is your primary nursing intervention?
What educate the patient to call you to before getting OOB due to orthostatic hypotension?
Your patient that came through the ED complains of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. The ED provider thinks the patient my have a bowel obstruction. Which class of medication would you NOT anticipate giving?
What is a cholinergic medication?
What is urinary retention, dry mouth, constipation, and blurry vision related to dry eyes.
You are taking care of a patient that is currently in septic shock. He is currently on a dobutamine drip significant hypotension. What are your 3 primary nursing interventions?
What is monitor telemetry, monitor BP, and monitor the IV site?
The provider orders metoprolol for a patient with a history of asthma, you know this drug to be an adrenergic-blocking drug, specifically, a beta blocker. What is your concern?
What is BB can cause an adverse reaction with patients who have respiratory dysfunction?
Your patient has Myasthenia gravis and as a result has severe chronic constipation. Which mediation would you anticipate giving?
What is pyridostigmine (Mestinon)?
What medication education should be completed when a patient is started on an anticholinergic?
What is 1. maintain hydration
2. Do not drink alcohol
You know mirabegron (Mybetriq) to be an adrenergic agonist. You understand this medication relaxes specific muscles to help with what disease process?
What is overactive bladder?
A patient is on atenolol for their irregular, fast heart rate. You check the patient's heart rate and it is 78. Your next action would be to?
What is continue to monitor the patient since this is a normal finding?
A patient with Alzheimer's disease was started on Aricept (donepezil), which you know to be a cholinergic drug. What patient education is needed with this class of medication?
What is take as directed, maintain good hydration, take 30 minutes BEFORE a meal?
You know there are few absolute contraindications to a medication. What is one of these contraindications for a patient taking an anticholinergic medication?
What is GI obstruction?
You understand the adrenergic agonist medication that are used for cardiac indications are usually given IV in an ICU setting. Before stating the medication, your patient's blood pressure was low at 78/42. What finding would indicate the medication is working?
What is the blood pressure would improve/increase?
Your patient with a history of DM was recently started on a beta blocker. What patient education would you include?
What is monitor your blood glucose levels more closely?
This class of medication can be used to help with nausea and vomiting related to a decrease in intestinal motility. (although due to multiple adverse effects it is not first line)
Cholinergic medication
The primary use of anticholinergic medications is....
What is to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease and drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions?
Your patient has been given an adrenergic agonist inhaler for an asthma attack. What patient teaching follows?
What is rinse the mouth out?
You are working in a clinic and your 54 y/o male patient comes into the clinic stating he feels like he "cannot pee". What medication would you anticipate being prescribed?
What is tamsulosin (Flomax)?
The 2 main indications for cholinergic medication are ....
1. What is constipation?
2. What is urinary retention?
Your patient is actively dying. You understand the pathophysiology of dying is an increase in oral secretions, but patients have the inability to swallow. This results in a large amount of secretions in the mouth and throat causing a "death rattle". What medication would you anticipate giving?
What is atropine?