Question

a nurse is planning to administer metoprolol to a client who has heart failure and a heart rate of 48/min. which of the following actions should the nurse take? encourage the client to ambulate. request a different beta blocker medication to administer. administer one - half of the clients prescribed dose. withhold the clients medication.

Explanation:

Metoprolol is a beta - blocker that can lower heart rate. A heart rate of 48/min is bradycardia. For a client with heart failure and bradycardia, the nurse should withhold the metoprolol (a beta - blocker) as administering it would further lower the heart rate, which is unsafe. Encouraging ambulation is inappropriate as the client has bradycardia and may not tolerate it. Requesting a different beta - blocker is not correct as all beta - blockers can lower heart rate. Administering half the dose is also not appropriate as the heart rate is already too low.

Answer:

D. Withhold the client's medication.