Question

The nurse has administered fentanyl, atropine, cefazolin and benzocaine to a client for an endoscopic procedure. The nurse is monitoring the client and notes that the heart rate has increased from the pre-procedure baseline. The nurse knows that which of the following medications is most likely responsible for the client's increased heart rate?

A
Atropine Correct Answer (Blank)
B
Cefazolin
C
Fentanyl
D
Benzocaine

Answer 1

Atropine is the medication most likely to be responsible for the increased heart rate due to its anticholinergic properties which decrease vagal tone and cause tachycardia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The medication most likely responsible for the client's increased heart rate during the endoscopic procedure is atropine. Atropine is an anticholinergic drug that blocks the effects of acetylcholine on muscarinic receptors, leading to an increase in heart rate. This is due to atropine's action at the sinoatrial node of the heart where it decreases vagal tone, thus causing tachycardia, which is an abnormally fast heart rate. In contrast, cefazolin is an antibiotic, fentanyl is an opioid analgesic, and benzocaine is a local anesthetic; none of these are primarily associated with increased heart rate as their major pharmacological effect.