A patient who is intubated develops sinus bradycardia. Which medication will the nurse anticipate administering to treat this symptom?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Metoclopramide (Reglan): Metoclopramide is an antiemetic and prokinetic agent used to treat nausea and gastroparesis. It has no role in managing bradycardia and would not address the patient’s slow heart rate. B. Atropine sulfate (Atropine): Atropine is an anticholinergic medication that blocks vagal stimulation of the heart, increasing heart rate. It is the drug of choice for symptomatic sinus bradycardia, especially in acute care settings, to restore adequate cardiac output. C. Benztropine (Cogentin): Benztropine is used primarily for Parkinson’s disease and extrapyramidal symptoms. It does not have a clinically significant effect on heart rate and is not indicated for bradycardia management. D. Bethanechol chloride (Urecholine): Bethanechol is a cholinergic agonist that stimulates bladder and gastrointestinal smooth muscle. It can actually lower heart rate rather than increase it, making it inappropriate for treating bradycardia.