A patient with myocardial infarction develops symptomatic hypotension. The monitor shows a type 1, second-degree AV block with a heart rate of 30. The nurse administers IV atropine as prescribed. The nurse determines that the drug has been effective on finding a(n)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Atropine will increase the heart rate and conduction through the AV node. Because the medication increases electrical conduction, not cardiac contractility, the quality of the peripheral pulses is not used to evaluate the drug effectiveness. Ventricular response will be increased by atropine because of the improvement in AV conduction. Atropine will not decrease PVCs, and the patient does not have PVCs.

A Patient with Myocardial Infarction Develops Symptomatic Hypotension