Exam 15: Adrenergic Agonists and Antagonists

A patient who has Raynaud's disease will begin taking an alpha-adrenergic blocker. The patient asks the nurse how the drug works to treat symptoms. The nurse explains that alpha-adrenergic blockers treat Raynaud's disease by causing:

The nurse caring for a patient who is taking an adrenergic agonist will expect which side effects? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse is teaching a patient how to use phenylephrine HCl (Neo-Synephrine) nasal spray to treat congestion from a viral upper respiratory infection. What instruction will the nurse give the patient?

The patient has been ordered to receive pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) to treat nasal congestion. The nurse performing an admission assessment learns that the patient has diabetes mellitus. What action is appropriate for the nurse to take?

The nurse is caring for a patient who has asthma and administers a selective beta₂-adrenergic agonist to treat bronchospasm. The nurse will expect this drug to also cause which side effect?

The nurse is caring for a patient who will begin taking atenolol (Tenormin). What information will the nurse include when teaching the patient about taking this medication?

Reserpine would be best categorized as which of the following?

The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving intravenous dopamine (Intropin). The nurse notes erythema and swelling at the IV insertion site. What is the nurse's initial action?

A patient who has asthma is diagnosed with hypertension. The nurse understands that which drug will be the safest to give this patient?

A patient is taking doxazosin mesylate (Cardura) 1 mg/day to treat hypertension. The nurse notes a blood pressure of 110/72 mm Hg and a heart rate of 92 beats per minute. The nurse will contact the provider to discuss which change to the drug regimen?

The nurse administers epinephrine to a patient who is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction. The nurse should expect which of the following?

An adult patient is brought to the emergency department for treatment of an asthma exacerbation. The patient uses inhaled albuterol as needed to control wheezing. The nurse notes expiratory wheezing, tremors, restlessness, and a heart rate of 120 beats per minute. The nurse suspects that the patient has:

A patient will begin taking albuterol (Proventil) to treat asthma. The patient has no other chronic medical conditions. When teaching the patient about this drug, the nurse will make which recommendation?

A patient has been started on a treatment regimen that includes atenolol (Tenormin) and complains to the nurse of feeling weak and fatigued. Which is the best response from the nurse?

The nurse is caring for a patient who has recently begun taking atenolol (Tenormin) to treat hypertension. The patient reports dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and decreased libido since beginning the medication. What will the nurse do?

A patient will be discharged home on a beta blocker. Which skill is essential for the nurse to teach the patient's family?