A patient has a heart rate of 34 BPM, blood pressure of 76/48 mmHg, and complains of dizziness and blurred vision. The nurse must prepare to emergently administer which medication?

Explanation

• Atropine is the only drug listed that is used for symptomatic bradycardia by increasing heart rate and conduction velocity. Bradycardia is defined as a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute. Hypotension, dizziness, and blurred vision are all symptoms of bradycardia. 

• Incorrect: Epinephrine is used for ventricular fibrillation, flutter, and unstable tachycardia. 

• Incorrect: Dobutamine is used to increase cardiac output in heart failure. 

• Incorrect: Dopamine is used to maintain adequate blood pressure during shock and to maintain kidney perfusion. 

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