NUR 140 Cardiac Review Graded A 2025

1. Describe the actions and important nursing actions for the medications below: Thiazide Diuretics (Hydrochlorothiazide, Chlorothiazide, Metolazone) Actions: Keeps chloride, sodium, and water in the tubule to be excreted in the urine, thus preventing reabsorption in the vascular system. Side effects: electrolyte imbalances (sodium/potassium), Hyperglycemia (monitor DM patients blood sugar), Hyperuricemia (monitor uric acid levels for patients with kidney stones or gout), Hyperlipidemia (monitor LDL and triglyceride levels). Nursing Actions: Use with caution with patients with renal impairments/renal failure. Monitor I and O’s, Electrolytes, and blood pressure Beta Blockers (Suffix end with –lol: Metoprolol, Atenolol, Propranolol, Carvedilol, sotalol) Actions: Blocks Beta1 receptors and causes vasodilation, decreased HR, decreased peripheral resistance, and decreased cardiac output. Carvedilol: used for patients with heart failure for rate and rhythm Sotalol: used for patients is A-fib. Helps slow down the HR and decrease cardiac workload and oxygen demand. Side effects: orthostatic hypotension and hypoglycemia Nursing Actions: Use cautiously with patients with Heart Failure and Asthma. It is less effective for African Americans give thiazide or calcium channel blockers. and Asians are sensitive to high doses of beta blockers. CAUTION: heart rate and blood pressure ACE inhibitors (suffix ends with –pril: captopril, lisinopril, enalapril) Action: controls HTN. blocks ACE from converting angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2, leading to decrease BP due to vasodilation, decreases fluid volume. Side effects: dry, persistent cough, orthostatic hypotension, dizziness CAUTION: pregnancy and CHF ARB’s (Suffix ends with –sartan: losartan) Action: Angiotensin receptor blocker: reduces BP, workload, and O2 demand. Used for pts with HTN, Diabetes, Renal disease, HF Side effects: headache, dizziness, syncope, weakness, abdominal pain. CAUTION: hypovolemia Calcium Channel Blockers (suffix ends with –dipine: Nifedipine, Amlodipine, Amiodarone) Action: inhibits movements of calcium ions across calcium membranes reduces contractility: treatment for hypertension. Used for pts who cannot tolerate Beta blockers, pts with heart failure, can also prevent coronary artery spasm. Side effects: headache, dizziness, syncope, weakness, nausea, abdominal pain, Erectile dysfunction. CAUTION: CAD, renal, or hepatic dysfunction. Loop Diuretics (bumetanide, furosemide, and torsemide) (potassium-sparing diuretics amiloride, spironolactone, and triamterene) Action: blocks chloride pump which decreases sodium & water. treatment of hypertension or edema due to HF or other causes. Potassium-sparing diuretics have weak diuretic and antihypertensive properties and are used mainly to conserve potassium in patients receiving thiazide or loop diuretics. Side effects: hypokalemia, dehydration, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia CAUTION: pt. with renal or hepatic disease