Myocardial infarction
D.K., a 72-year-old man, had a myocardial infarction (MI) 5 years ago. He has been diagnosed with classic (stable) angina. D.K. is prescribed acebutolol. His baseline vital signs are blood pressure 108/58; pulse 56 (at times irregular); and respirations 28. His past medication history includes asthma.
- What assessments should the nurse make while D.K. is taking acebutolol?
- Would another beta blocker, propranolol, be an appropriate medication for D.K.? How are these two beta blocker different. Explain your answer.
- How do beta blockers work to manage angina?
D.K. comes to the clinic with complaints of “dizzy spell and wheezing” His blood pressure is 86/50, pulse 46, and respirations 30. His acebutolol was stopped, and diltiazem, was ordered.
- What are the correlations between D.K.’s dizziness, wheezing, and vital signs and acebutolol? Explain your answer.
- In what ways could diltiazem benefit D.K and what other drug regimen might be helpful to D.K.? What are the advantages and disadvantages of calcium channel blockers?
- What are the nursing considerations and teaching for patients taking calcium channel blockers like diltiazem? Provide rationale for your answer.
- D.K’s friend was given alteplase in the emergency department while suffering from an acute myocardial infarction. D.K inquiries about why this drug was given to his friend. Explain why alteplase is given and how it works?
- Explain some of the main concerns with the administration of thrombolytics.
Reference:
McCuistion, L. E., Vuljoin-DiMaggio, K., Winton, M. B., & Yeager, J. J. (2021). Pharmacology: A patient-centered nursing process approach (10th ed.). Elsevier.
