MEDizzy - A nurse working in a military hospital’s emergency

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Medical Emergency

A nurse working in a military hospital’s emergency department receives a call that an unknown number of clients have been exposed to a nerve agent during a terrorist attack on a government center. Which medication should the nurse prepare to have readily available in sufficient quantities to treat the clients?

ExplanationNerve agents bond with acetylcholinesterase, causing hyperstimulation of the nerve endings. Symptoms are similar to those associated with cholinergic crisis, including bradycardia, copious secretions, and other respiratory, neurological, gastrointestinal, urinary, and visual symptoms. Atropine increases the heart rate and dries secretions. Labetalol is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent that will decrease the heart rate. Dopamine is a vasopressor used to treat cardiac output and increase the blood pressure. Phentolamine is an alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker that will produce hypotension. Phentolamine is administered subcutaneously to treat dopamine extravasation.