The nurse is administering amiodarone to a patient who is being treated for a ventricular arrhythmia. The patient has received a bolus of 150 mg of amiodarone IV and is now receiving a continuous infusion of 1 mg/min. The nurse notes a heart rate of 60 beats per minute and a blood pressure of 88/54 mm Hg. The nurse will notify the provider and perform which other action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's heart rate has slowed down, which is a potential adverse effect of amiodarone. The nurse should notify the provider and decrease the rate of the infusion to 0.5 mg/min to improve the patient's hemodynamic stability. Continuing the infusion at the same rate or increasing the rate may further lower the heart rate and blood pressure, while stopping the infusion abruptly may cause rebound arrhythmias.

The Nurse Is Administering Amiodarone to a Patient Who Is