Question

A nurse is planning to administer metoprolol to a client who has heart failure and a heart rate of 48/min. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Encourage the client to ambulate
B. Request a different beta blocker medication to administer
C. Administer one-half of the client's prescribed dose
D. Withhold the client's medication

Answer 1

The nurse should withhold the client's medication, Metoprolol, due to the client's heart rate of 48/min.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should withhold the client's medication, Metoprolol, due to the client's heart rate of 48/min. Metoprolol is a beta blocker medication that works by blocking the beta-1 receptors in the heart, which slows down the heart rate. In this case, the client already has a heart rate of 48/min, which is already lowered, and administering Metoprolol can further decrease the heart rate to a dangerously low level.