Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 76%
Full-length
At 30 weeks' gestation, a client is admitted to the unit in premature labor. Her physician orders that an IV be started with 500 mL D5W mixed with 150 mg of ritodrine stat. The RN prepares the IV solution with the medication. The RN knows that clients receiving the medication ritodrine IV should be observed closely for which one of the following side effects:
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Ritodrine is a sympathomimetic β2-adrenergic agonist that can cause vasodilation, leading to hypotension. The body compensates by increasing heart rate, resulting in tachycardia.