Pharmacology- Drugs Affecting the CardiovascularSystem: Cardiac Rhythm1. A nurse is preparing to administer the beta blocker propranolol hydrochloride to a clientfor dysrhythmias. What is the primary purpose of this medication?Propranolol hydrochloride can be given via oral or IV route. This drug is a Class II beta blocker.The therapeutic uses for propranolol hydrochloride is atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmalSVT, hypertension, and angina. It works by blocking epinephrine and norepinephrine by bindingto beta-adrenergic receptors of cardiac tissues. This in turn, decreased sinoatrial node activity andallows for more time for atrioventricular conduction and increases refractory period. Cardiaccontractility is slowed, the afterload is decreased and also decreases the blood pressure.2. A nurse is administering amiodarone to a client for ventricular tachycardia. What shouldthe nurse monitor for in this client?Amiodarone is a class III potassium channel blocker. This drug is used toconvert atrial fibrillation back to normal sinus rhythm, used for recurrentventricular fibrillation, and recurrent ventricular tachycardia. Class IIIpotassium channel blockers binds to and blocks the potassium pumpchannels that are responsible for phase 3 repolarization. This action delaysrepolarization which in turn, increases the hearts action potential andincreases the effective refractory period.Amiodarone may elicit adverse reactions such as pulmonary toxicity, sinusbradycardia and AV block (which may lead to heart failure), visualdisturbances (photophobia, blurred vision (which may lead to blindness), andphlebitis with IV administration.The nurse should monitor for cough, dyspnea, and chest pain which mayindicate pulmonary toxicity. The nurse should monitor blood pressure andECG. If an AV block occurs, the first action is to stop the medication. Educatethe patient to report visual disturbances and use a central venous catheterto avoid phlebitis with IV administratio


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