Author Question: Which laboratory result for a patient receiving sotalol (Betapace) does the nurse immediately report ... (Read 34 times)

bobbie · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

Which laboratory result for a patient receiving sotalol (Betapace) does the nurse immediately report to the prescriber?

a. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 21 mg/dL
b. Potassium (K) 3.4 mEq/L
c. Sodium (Na) 147 mEq/L
d. Creatinine 2.4 mg/dL

Question 2

A patient is to receive 100 mL of normal saline over the next 5 hours with microdrip tubing. How many drops per minute does the nurse administer to infuse this fluid in the prescribed time? _____ gtt per minute

Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

TINA · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D
Sotalol is a beta blocker. When a beta blocker is prescribed for a patient with kidney damage, a lower dose of the drug should be ordered. A creatinine level of 2.4 mg/dL indicates kidney dam-age. Whereas all of these laboratory results are abnormal and should be reported to the prescriber, the creatinine level is the most important.

Answer to Question 2

20 gtt per minute
The flow rate for 100 mL over 5 hours is 20 mL per hour (100 mL 5 hr). With microdrip tubing, the drop factor of 60 drops per mL is the same as the number of minutes in 1 hour (60). The two sets of 60 cancel each other out, and the flow rate for microdrip tubing always equals the drop rate. So, 20 mL per hr by microdrip tubing = 20 gtt per minute.