Chapter 30 Adrenergic Agonists

Chapter 30  Adrenergic Agonists

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

1.
A patient is admitted to the emergency department in shock. Isoproterenol (Isuprel) is administered. What would the nurse expect the effect of the isoproterenol to be?
A)
Increased blood pressure
B)
Decreased blood pressure
C)
Increased body temperature
D)
Decreased heart rate
Ans:
A

Feedback:

Isoproterenol stimulates beta-adrenergic receptors. Blood pressure is increased and heart rate is increased. Body temperature should not be affected.

2.
What action do sympathomimetic drugs have in the body?
A)
Decreased heart rate
B)
Decreased blood pressure
C)
Increased respirations
D)
Increased intraocular pressure
Ans:
C

Feedback:

Sympathomimetic drugs increase respirations. Heart rate and blood pressure are also increased and intraocular pressure is decreased.

3.
An 80-year-old patient has been brought to the emergency department in shock. The patient is receiving dopamine (Intropin). What potentially serious adverse effect will the nurse monitor for?
A)
Blood dyscrasia
B)
Cardiac arrhythmia
C)
Hepatic toxicity
D)
Renal insufficiency
Ans:
B

Feedback:

Dopamine therapy can result in cardiac arrhythmias, which can be life threatening. Older patients are more likely to experience the adverse effects associated with adrenergic agonists and should be started on lower doses and monitored closely for arrhythmias and blood pressure changes. Blood dyscrasias, hepatic toxicity, and renal insufficiency are not commonly associated with dopamine use. In fact, at lower doses, dopamine increases renal perfusion.

4.
A patient comes to the clinic complaining of seasonal rhinitis. What adrenergic agonist would be prescribed for treatment of seasonal rhinitis?
A)
Dobutamine (Dobutrex)
B)
Ephedrine (generic)
C)
Dopamine (Intropin)
D)
Norepinephrine (Levophed)
Ans:
B

Feedback:

Ephedrine has been used to treat seasonal rhinitis by stimulating the release of norepinephrine from nerve endings and directly acting on adrenergic receptor sites. Although ephedrine was formerly used for situations ranging from the treatment of shock to chronic management of asthma and allergic rhinitis, its use in many areas is declining because of the availability of less toxic drugs with more predictable onset and action. Dobutamine is used to treat congestive heart failure. Dopamine and norepinephrine are used to treat shock.

5.
The patient is taking midodrine (ProAmatine). What is the most important nursing action to include in the plan of care for this patient?
A)
Monitor urine output.
B)
Monitor blood pressure.
C)
Monitor heart rate.
D)
Monitor respirations.
Ans:
B

Feedback:

Midodrine is an oral drug used to treat orthostatic hypotension in patients who do not respond to traditional therapy. It activates alpha-adrenergic receptors, leading to peripheral vasoconstriction and an increase in vascular tone and blood pressure. This effect can cause serious supine hypertension. Patients should be monitored in the standing, sitting, and supine positions to determine whether this will be a problem. It is also important to monitor heart rate, respirations, and urine output in this patient. However, assessing for supine hypertension would pose the greatest threat to the patient and would take priority.