Question

the nurse is caring for a client who recently suffered an mi. when preparing to administer propranolol, the nurse would hold the dose and contact the health care provider if which assessment finding were noted?

Answer 1

The nurse should hold the dose of propranolol and contact the healthcare provider if the client exhibits bradycardia, hypotension, or signs of heart failure after an MI, as this medication can decrease heart rate and blood pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is caring for a client who recently suffered a myocardial infarction (MI), and is preparing to administer propranolol, a beta blocker. It is crucial for the nurse to monitor the patient's vital signs because beta blockers can cause bradycardia and decreased cardiac output.

The nurse should hold the dose and contact the healthcare provider if the client exhibits signs of bradycardia (a heart rate significantly below 60 beats per minute), hypotension (low blood pressure), or any signs of heart failure such as worsening shortness of breath, edema or weight gain from fluid retention, or fatigue indicating decreased cardiac output.

Norepinephrine (NE) binds to the beta-1 receptor in the heart, and beta blockers like propranolol work by blocking these receptors to slow the heart rate. Overprescription or incorrect dosing of these drugs may lead to dangerously low heart rates or even cardiac arrest. Monitoring cardiac function is essential, particularly after an acute event like an MI, where the heart's condition may be compromised.