Author Question: Due to an administration error, a patient may have received too much phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine). ... (Read 63 times)

sarasara · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

Due to an administration error, a patient may have received too much phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine). Which findings would support the nurse's concerns about overdosage? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Standard Text: Select all that apply.

1. The patient's heart rate has increased from 72 bpm to 114 bpm.
2. The patient reports feeling anxious.
3. The patient's blood pressure has increased from 140/86 mmHg to 180/98 mmHg.
4. The patient's stools are dark and tarry.
5. The patient reports burning at the injection site.

Question 2

A patient who is in hypertensive crisis will be given the calcium channel blocker clevidipine (Cleviprex). The nurse should prepare for which interventions?

1. Monitoring bowel sounds
2. Administering the drug intravenously
3. Continuous blood pressure monitoring
4. Crushing caplets for administration
5. Infusing normal saline at 125 mL/hr

joshraies · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

1,3
Rationale 1: An overdose of phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) will result in tachycardia.
Rationale 2: Feelings of anxiety and restlessness are expected adverse effects of phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine).
Rationale 3: Overdosage of phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) will result in hypertension.
Rationale 4: Dark and tarry stools are not related to phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine).
Rationale 5: Burning at the injection site would indicate possible extravasation, not overdose.

Global Rationale: An overdose of phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) will result in tachycardia and hypertension. Feelings of anxiety and restlessness are expected adverse effects of phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine). Dark and tarry stools are not related to phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine). Burning at the injection site would indicate possible extravasation, not overdose.

Answer to Question 2

2,3
Rationale 1: There is no particular reason that bowel sounds should be monitored more frequently than normally done.
Rationale 2: Clevidipine (Cleviprex) is administered intravenously.
Rationale 3: Clevidipine (Cleviprex) has an ultrashort half-life so blood pressure will be monitored continuously.
Rationale 4: This drug is not supplied in caplet form.
Rationale 5: Infusing normal saline at this rate would be contraindicated in hypertensive emergency.

Global Rationale: Clevidipine (Cleviprex) is administered intravenously. It has an ultrashort half-life so blood pressure will be monitored continuously. There is no particular reason that bowel sounds should be monitored more frequently than normally done. This drug is not supplied in caplet form. Infusing normal saline at this rate would be contraindicated in hypertensive emergency.