Principles of Administration of Cardiac Medications Show
CARDIAC MEDICATIONS, IF NOT PROPERLY ADMINISTERED, HAVE A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR FATALITY (DEATH!) ! While there are several general principles for initiating, monitoring, and responding to cardiac medications, foremost to remember is that the nurse is a professional and must act professionally by assessing and intervening to each situation with intelligence instead of following regimented rules.
Return to Cardiac Medications Page What is the main action of Antidysrhythmic medications?Antidysrhythmics, also known as antiarrhythmics, are drugs used to prevent abnormal cardiac rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. These drugs work by blocking sodium, potassium, and calcium channels in the heart muscles.
What would the nurse include for the client teaching about amiodarone?Key teachings for your patient are to monitor pulse daily, avoid grapefruit juice and that side effects can appear up to a year after initiation of therapy. Teach your patient that the effects of amiodarone can persist for months after discontinuation, due to the drugs long half life of up to 100 days.
When teaching a patient about amiodarone the nurse should advise the patient to avoid which food or drink?Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may increase the side effects of amiodarone by increasing the amount of this medicine in your body. You should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.
Which classes of drugs are considered Antidysrhythmic drugs select all that apply?Antiarrhythmic drugs are grouped into four main classes:. Class I, sodium-channel blockers;. Class II, beta-blockers;. Class III, potassium-channel blockers;. Class IV, calcium-channel blockers; and.. miscellaneous antiarrhythmics or unclassified antiarrhythmics.. |