Final answer:
The nurse administering an adrenergic drug should monitor for an increased heart rate, among other potential effects. Adrenergic drugs simulate the sympathetic nervous system response, with adrenaline increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Beta blockers can antagonize these effects and are used to manage high heart rate and hypertension.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse is administering an adrenergic drug and will monitor for which possible effect. Adrenergic drugs mimic the effects of the sympathetic nervous system, which include the fight-or-flight reactions, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure. Therefore, when a nurse administers an adrenergic drug, the effects that should be monitored for include increased heart rate as well as other potential effects like urinary retention, increased respiratory rate, and decreased intestinal peristalsis.
Adrenaline, which is an adrenergic neurotransmitter, has a stimulatory effect on various receptors in the body. When norepinephrine (NE) binds to the beta-1 receptor, it can increase the heart rate, which is why beta blockers, which work antagonistically to adrenaline, may be prescribed to slow heart rate and manage hypertension. However, overprescription of these drugs can lead to bradycardia or even complete stoppage of the heart.
An incorrect pairing of effects, based on the options provided, is acetylcholine decreases digestion, as acetylcholine actually increases digestion by promoting gastrointestinal motility and secretions.