The nurse is preparing to administer an intravenous dose of ...

[dejastew]

The nurse is preparing to administer an intravenous dose of verapamil (Calan) to a client. Prior to administering this drug, which action by the nurse is the most appropriate?
 
  1. Ask the client to sit in a chair.
  2. Obtain emergency resuscitation equipment.
  3. Attach a pulse oximeter monitor.
  4. Administer oxygen by nasal cannula.

Question 2

A client is prescribed verapamil (Calan) and simvastatin (Zocor). To detect a potential adverse effect of this drug combination, the nurse should instruct the client to call her health care provider if which adverse effect is experienced?
 
  1. Tachycardia
  2. Muscle pain
  3. Dizziness
  4. Headache

[aliotak]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: IV verapamil should be administered with the client lying in bed to prevent falls that can occur with severe hypotension.
Rationale 2: The client receiving IV verapamil might experience cardiac dysrhythmias and cardiac arrest.
Rationale 3: A pulse oximeter monitor is not required for a client receiving IV verapamil. A cardiac monitor, however, would be necessary to detect reflex tachycardia or other dysrhythmias.
Rationale 4: Oxygen administration during verapamil administration is not necessary.
Global Rationale: The client receiving IV verapamil might experience cardiac dysrhythmias and cardiac arrest; therefore, it is appropriate for the nurse to obtain emergency resuscitation equipment. IV verapamil should be administered with the client lying in bed to prevent falls that can occur with severe hypotension. A pulse oximeter monitor is not required for a client receiving IV verapamil. A cardiac monitor, however, would be necessary to detect reflex tachycardia or other dysrhythmias. Oxygen administration during verapamil administration is not necessary.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Tachycardia is not associated with statin drugs. Bradycardia can occur as an adverse effect of verapamil (Calan), but this risk is not increased by adding a statin to a drug regimen.
Rationale 2: Muscle pain might indicate myopathy, an adverse effect of simvastatin (Zocor), which is a statin drug. The risk of myopathy is increased when a client takes both a statin drug and verapamil (Calan).
Rationale 3: Dizziness might indicate hypotension, a risk associated with simvastatin that is not increased by verapamil (Calan).
Rationale 4: Headache is not a serious adverse effect of this drug combination.
Global Rationale: Muscle pain might indicate myopathy, an adverse effect of simvastatin (Zocor), which is a statin drug. The risk of myopathy is increased when a client takes both a statin drug and verapamil (Calan). Tachycardia is not associated with statin drugs. Bradycardia can occur as an adverse effect of verapamil (Calan), but this risk is not increased by adding a statin to a drug regimen. Dizziness might indicate hypotension, a risk associated with simvastatin that is not increased by verapamil (Calan). Headache is not a serious adverse effect of this drug combination.

[dejastew]

Excellent

[gcook]

TYSM