1. The nurse is caring for a patient who has asthma and administers a selective beta2-adrenergic
agonist to treat bronchospasm. The nurse will expect
... [Show More] this drug to also cause which side effect?
a. Increased blood glucose
b. Increased blood pressure
c. Increased heart rate
d. Increased gastrointestinal (GI) motility
ANS: A
Drugs that act on beta2 receptors activate gluconeogenesis in the liver, causing increased
blood glucose. Selective beta2 drugs act on beta2 receptors only and not on beta1 receptors, so
they do not cause increased blood pressure or increased heart rate. Adrenergic agonists cause
decreased GI motility.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2. A patient who has asthma is diagnosed with hypertension. The nurse understands that which
drug will be the safest to give this patient?
a. Pindolol (Visken)
b. Metoprolol (Lopressor)
c. Nadolol (Corgard)
d. Propranolol (Inderal)
ANS: B
Metoprolol is a cardioselective adrenergic blocker that has a greater affinity for receptors that
decrease heart rate and blood pressure and is less likely to cause bronchospasm. The other
adrenergic blockers are not selective and can cause bronchoconstriction.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
3. The nurse administers epinephrine to a patient who is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction.
The nurse should expect which of the following?
a. Bradycardia
b. Decreased urine output
c. Hypotension
d. Nausea and vomiting
ANS: B
Epinephrine can cause renal vasoconstriction and thereby reduce renal perfusion and decrease
urinary output. Epinephrine causes tachycardia and elevates blood pressure. Nausea and
vomiting are not expected to occur.
4. An adult patient is brought to the emergency department for treatment of an asthma
exacerbation. The patient uses inhaled albuterol as needed to control wheezing. The nurse
notes expiratory wheezing, tremors, restlessness, and a heart rate of 120 beats per minute. The
nurse suspects that the patient has:
a. overused the albuterol.
b. not been using albuterol.
c. taken a beta-adrenergic blocker.
d. taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor.
ANS: A
High doses of albuterol may affect beta1 receptors, causing an increase in heart rate. Patients
having an asthma exacerbation may overuse their albuterol inhalers when seeking relief.
Patients may have wheezing and increased heart rate during an untreated asthma exacerbation,
but they will not have tremors and restlessness. [Show Less]