The nurse is administering amiodarone to a patient who is being treated for a ventricular arrhythmia. The patient has received a bolus of 150 mg of amiodarone IV and is now receiving a continuous infusion of 1 mg/min. The nurse notes a heart rate of 60 beats per minute and a blood pressure of 88/54 mm Hg. The nurse will notify the provider and perform which other action?

A. Continue the amiodarone infusion at 1 mg/min.: Continuing the infusion despite bradycardia and hypotension could worsen hemodynamic instability. The patient is showing signs of significant adverse effects, making it unsafe to maintain the current rate. B. Increase the rate of the amiodarone infusion to 1.5 mg/min.: Increasing the infusion would exacerbate bradycardia and hypotension, further compromising cardiac output. Higher doses are contraindicated in the presence of hemodynamic instability. C. Decrease the rate of the amiodarone infusion to 0.5 mg/min.: Reducing the rate may slightly lessen adverse effects but does not adequately address the immediate risk posed by low heart rate and hypotension. Stopping the infusion is safer until the provider evaluates the patient. D. Stop the infusion of amiodarone.: The patient exhibits hypotension and bradycardia, which are serious adverse effects of IV amiodarone. Stopping the infusion prevents further cardiovascular compromise while notifying the provider for further orders and possible interventions to stabilize the patient.