A nurse is caring for a patient who has excessive catecholamine release. Which assessment finding would the nurse correlate with this condition?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Increased pulse. Excessive catecholamine release, such as in a stress response, leads to sympathetic nervous system activation causing an increase in heart rate (pulse). This physiological response is known as the "fight or flight" response. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as catecholamine release typically leads to increased blood pressure, increased respiratory rate, and decreased urine output due to vasoconstriction, increased oxygen demand, and fluid retention respectively.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Prazosin. Prazosin is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, which blocks the vasoconstrictor effect of catecholamines like epinephrine, leading to vasodilation and a decrease in diastolic pressure. The unexpected effect of a decrease in diastolic pressure and an increase in cardiac output after epinephrine administration suggests that the patient might have taken a drug that blocks alpha-1 receptors. Propranolol (A) is a beta-blocker, which would not cause this effect. Atropine (B) is a muscarinic receptor antagonist and would not explain the observed effects. Phenylephrine (C) is an alpha-1 agonist, so it would not result in the described response. Therefore, Prazosin (D) is the most likely drug the patient previously took to account for the unexpected effects of epinephrine administration.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Intravenous methacholine. Methacholine is a parasympathomimetic drug that would worsen the symptoms of organophosphorus poisoning by further stimulating the cholinergic receptors. Intravenous atropine is used to counteract the excessive cholinergic stimulation. Decontamination is crucial to remove any remaining poison from the skin or gastrointestinal tract. Artificial respiration and aspiration of secretions help manage respiratory distress caused by the poisoning.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Salbutamol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist that relaxes smooth muscles in the airways, making it an effective treatment for bronchial asthma by relieving bronchospasm and improving airflow. It is not used for angina pectoris, hypertension, or cardiac arrhythmias as these conditions do not involve bronchial constriction.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Pilocarpine. Parasympatholytic drugs inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system. Pilocarpine, on the other hand, is a parasympathomimetic drug that stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. Hyoscine, Atropine, and Ipratropium are all parasympatholytic drugs that block the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system. Therefore, pilocarpine is the exception in this list.