Nurse Teaching on Arterial Vasodilators and Mechanism of Action

Patient was educated on arterial vasodilators and their mechanism of action as follows: Constricted or collapsed arteries offer more resistance for the pumping action of the heart and contribute towards increased blood pressure. Dilation of arteries results in decreased resistance for the heart, pumping blood into the arterial system. So, more amount of blood can be pumped by the heart with reduced effort. Reduced resistance in the arteries will lead to reduced blood pressure. So, [...]

Nurse Teachings on Class IV Antiarrhythmic Medications-Calcium Channel Blockers

Patient was educated on calcium channel blockers and their mechanism of action as follows: Entry of calcium ion through the calcium channels, into the cells lining the blood vessels is needed for narrowing or constriction of blood vessel, which results in elevated blood pressure. Entry of calcium ion into the SA node cells, which is the natural pacemaker in the body, is also needed to initiate a normal heartbeat in the pacemaker cells. Calcium channel [...]

Nurse Teachings on Class III Antiarrhythmic Medications-Potassium Channel Blockers

Patient was educated on potassium channel blockers and their mechanism of action as follows: Potassium channel blockers are medications that block the movement of potassium ions out of the cells in the cardiac muscle. Blocking the exit of potassium ions from the cells of cardiac muscle results in prolongation of the repolarization of heart muscle cells and thereby, prolong the total duration of action potential and the refractory period of cardiac muscle cells. By prolonging [...]

Nurse Teachings on Class II Antiarrhythmic Medications-Beta Blockers

Patient was educated on Beta blockers and their mechanism of action as follows: Beta blockers are drugs that inhibit the action of adrenaline on both the Beta-1 and Beta-2 receptors. Beta -1 receptors are present in the pacemaker cells of the heart. Action of adrenaline on these cells increase the heart rate. Inhibition of action of adrenaline on Beta-1 receptors by Beta blockers result in slowing of heart rate and decreases the force of contraction [...]

Nurse Teachings on Class I Antiarrhythmic Medications- Sodium Channel Blockers

Patient was educated on sodium channel blockers and their mechanism of action as follows: Sodium channel blockers are medications that block the movement of sodium ions into the cells in the cardiac and nervous tissues. Blocking the entry of sodium ions into the cells of cardiac and nervous tissues results in reduced excitation of these tissues. Slowing down the excitation of the cardiac and nervous tissues results in reduced conduction of the impulse in both [...]