Final answer:
A nurse should assess vital signs, check Magnesium and Potassium levels, monitor oxygen saturation, and perform an ECG before administering antiarrhythmic medication to ensure safety and proper treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before administering an antiarrhythmic medication, a nurse should take several key steps to ensure patient safety. First and foremost, assessing the patient's vital signs is crucial as it provides a baseline of the patient's current cardiovascular status. Vital signs include blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Additionally, checking the latest Magnesium and Potassium levels is critical because antiarrhythmic medications can affect electrolyte balance, which is integral to cardiac function. Potassium, in particular, has considerable clinical significance in managing arrhythmias.
Monitoring the patient's oxygen saturation is another important step as it indicates the effectiveness of the heart and lungs in oxygenating the blood. An electrocardiogram (ECG) should also be performed to obtain a definitive picture of the electrical activity of the heart and to help guide the correct choice and dosing of antiarrhythmic medication. Lastly, considering the effects of medications like potassium channel blockers (e.g., amiodarone, procainamide) on action potentials, understanding current medications and medical history is also crucial.