Deck 18: Adrenergic Agonists and Adrenergic Blockers

Question 1

The nurse is caring for a patient who will begin taking atenolol (Tenormin).What information will the nurse include when teaching the patient about taking this medication?

A)The drug must be taken twice daily.
B)The patient must rise slowly from a chair or bed.
C)The medication is safe to take during pregnancy.
D)Use NSAIDs as needed for mild to moderate pain.

Answer 1

The patient must rise slowly from a chair or bed.

Question 2

A patient will be discharged on beta blockers.Which skill is essential for the nurse to teach the patient's family?

A)How to prepare a low-sodium diet
B)Assessments to detect fluid retention
C)How to monitor heart rate and blood pressure
D)Early signs of changing level of consciousness

Answer 2

How to monitor heart rate and blood pressure

Question 3

A patient who has asthma is diagnosed with hypertension.The nurse understands that which drug will be safe to give this patient?

A)Pindolol (Visken)
B)Metoprolol (Lopressor)
C)Nadolol (Corgard)
D)Propranolol (Inderal)

Answer 3

Metoprolol (Lopressor)

Question 4

A patient will begin taking albuterol (Proventil)to treat asthma.When teaching the patient about this drug,the nurse will make which recommendation?

A)Report rapid or irregular heart rate.
B)Drink 8 to 16 extra ounces of fluid each day.
C)Monitor serum glucose daily.
D)Take a calcium supplement.

Question 5

The nurse is performing an admission assessment on a patient who has recently begun taking reserpine.The patient reports using St.John's wort.The nurse anticipates that the patient will have

A)hypotension.
B)hypertension.
C)bradycardia.
D)tachycardia.

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving intravenous dopamine (Intropin).The nurse notes erythema and swelling at the IV insertion site.What is the nurse's initial action?

A)Apply warm soaks to the area.
B)Monitor the patient closely for hypertension.
C)Obtain an order for an electrocardiogram.
D)Notify the provider of a need for phentolamine mesylate (Regitine).

Question 7

An adult patient is brought to the emergency department for treatment of an asthma exacerbation.The patient uses inhaled albuterol as needed to control wheezing.The nurse notes expiratory wheezing,tremors,restlessness,and a heart rate of 120 beats per minute.The nurse suspects that the patient has

A)over-used the albuterol.
B)not been using albuterol.
C)taken a beta-adrenergic blocker.
D)taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor.

Question 8

The nurse is teaching a patient how to use phenylephrine HCl (Neo-Synephrine)nasal spray to treat congestion from a viral upper respiratory infection.What instruction will the nurse give the patient?

A)Stop using the medication after 3 days.
B)Spray the medication into the nose while lying supine.
C)Use frequently since systemic side effects do not occur.
D)Use the medication with any other over-the-counter medications.

Question 9

The patient has been started on a treatment regimen that includes atenolol (Tenormin)and complains to the nurse of feeling weak.Which is the best response from the nurse?

A)"I will hold your next dose of the medication."
B)"You may need an increase in your next dose of the medication."
C)"This is an adverse reaction to the medication.I will stop the drug."
D)"This is a side effect of the medication.I will notify your physician."

Question 10

The nurse is caring for a patient who has asthma and administers a selective beta?-adrenergic agonist to treat bronchospasm.The nurse will expect this drug to also cause which side effect?

A)Increased blood glucose
B)Increased blood pressure
C)Increased heart rate
D)Increased gastrointestinal (GI) motility

Question 11

A patient is taking doxazosin mesylate (Cardura)1 mg per day to treat hypertension.The nurse notes a blood pressure of 110/72 mm Hg and a heart rate of 92 beats per minute.The nurse will contact the provider to discuss which change to the drug regimen?

A)Changing to a beta-adrenergic blocker
B)Decreasing the drug dose
C)Increasing the drug dose
D)Adding a diuretic

Question 12

A nurse is teaching a patient how to use phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine)nasal spray.To avoid systemic absorption,the nurse teaches the patient to perform which action?

A)Apply pressure to the nose after spraying.
B)Administer the spray while in the supine position.
C)Insert the spray while sitting up.
D)Exhale deeply while injecting the nasal spray.

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a patient whose provider has just ordered a switch from atenolol (Tenormin)to reserpine.When preparing the patient to take this medication,what will the nurse do?

A)Ask about herbal supplements.
B)Counsel that NSAIDs are safe to take with reserpine.
C)Teach about potential side effects of mood elevation and euphoria.
D)Tell the patient to expect immediate therapeutic effects.

Question 14

The patient has been ordered to receive Sudafed to treat nasal congestion.The nurse performing an admission assessment learns that the patient has diabetes mellitus.What action is appropriate for the nurse to take?

A)Administer the medication as ordered.
B)Contact the provider to discuss a lower dose.
C)Give the medication and monitor serum glucose closely.
D)Hold the medication and contact the provider.

Question 15

A patient who has Raynaud's disease will begin taking an alpha-adrenergic blocker.The patient asks the nurse how the drug works to treat symptoms.The nurse explains that alpha-adrenergic blockers treat Raynaud's disease by causing

A)decreased peripheral vascular resistance.
B)orthostatic hypotension.
C)reflex tachycardia.
D)vasodilation.

Question 16

The nurse caring for a patient who is taking an adrenergic agent will expect which side effects? (Select all that apply.)

A)Dilated pupils
B)Increased heart rate
C)Increase gastrointestinal motility
D)Vasodilation
E) Bronchospasm
F) Relaxed uterine muscles

Question 17

The nurse administers subcutaneous epinephrine to a patient who is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction.The nurse should expect to monitor the patient for which symptom?

A)Bradycardia
B)Decreased urine output
C)Hypotension
D)Nausea and vomiting

Question 18

The nurse is caring for a patient who has recently begun taking atenolol (Tenormin)to treat hypertension.The patient reports dizziness,nausea,vomiting,and decreased libido since beginning the medication.What will the nurse do?

A)Hold the next dose until the provider can be notified of these side effects.
B)Reassure the patient that these symptoms are common and not worrisome.
C)Recommend that the patient discuss these effects with the provider.
D)Suggest that the patient request a different beta-adrenergic blocker.