Final answer:
The nurse should first assess the client's apical pulse and blood pressure during ventricular tachycardia. If the client is unresponsive, CPR and preparation for defibrillation with an AED should follow. Administering antiarrhythmic drugs like lidocaine comes after these initial life-saving measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the event of ventricular tachycardia, which is a severe disruption of the heart's electrical activity leading to a fast and ineffective heartbeat, immediate action must be taken. The first intervention a nurse should implement is to assess the client's apical pulse and blood pressure. This initial assessment is crucial to determine the severity of the ventricular tachycardia and to guide further treatment.
Once the assessment is complete and if the client is unresponsive or without a pulse, the next step would be to initiate CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and prepare to defibrillate the client using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if it's available, as defibrillation is the most common treatment for ventricular fibrillation.
Administering medications such as lidocaine, an antiarrhythmic, may be considered after life-saving measures have been initiated and as per the specific protocols or physician's orders. An AED is particularly important as it not only diagnoses the patient's heart condition but also applies the necessary shock with appropriate energy and waveform.