ENA Emergency Pharmacology and Interventions — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which medication is commonly used to treat bradycardia in emergency settings?
- Adenosine
- Amiodarone
- Atropine (Correct answer)
- Lidocaine
Correct answer: Atropine
Atropine is the first-line medication for symptomatic bradycardia as it increases heart rate by blocking parasympathetic influence.
Question 2: What is the primary action of epinephrine during cardiac arrest?
- Reduces pain perception
- Decreases heart rate
- Enhances renal perfusion
- Increases coronary and cerebral perfusion (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Increases coronary and cerebral perfusion
Epinephrine increases perfusion pressure to the heart and brain during CPR by causing vasoconstriction.
Question 3: Which drug is used as an antidote for opioid overdose?
- Flumazenil
- Naloxone (Correct answer)
- Diazepam
- Epinephrine
Correct answer: Naloxone
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses the effects of opioids, restoring respiration.
Question 4: A nurse is preparing to administer adenosine. What is the recommended method of administration?
- Slow IV infusion over 30 minutes
- IM injection
- Oral tablet
- Rapid IV push followed by saline flush (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Rapid IV push followed by saline flush
Adenosine must be given as a rapid IV push followed by a saline flush due to its very short half-life.
Question 5: Which intervention is most appropriate when administering IV potassium chloride?
- Administer as a rapid IV push
- Infuse diluted via a pump over time (Correct answer)
- Inject intramuscularly
- Give subcutaneously
Correct answer: Infuse diluted via a pump over time
IV potassium chloride must be diluted and infused slowly to avoid cardiac arrhythmias and irritation.
Question 6: What is the primary concern when administering tPA for stroke?
- Bradycardia
- Increased blood pressure
- Allergic reaction
- Bleeding risk (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Bleeding risk
tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) dissolves clots but carries a high risk of bleeding, especially intracranial hemorrhage.
ENA Emergency Pharmacology and Interventions
Which medication is commonly used to treat bradycardia in emergency settings?