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.

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:
A . Hypoglycemia
B . Hyperkalemia
C . Tachycardia
D . Increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin

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Answer: C

Explanation:

(A) Ritodrine is a sympathomimetic 2-adrenergic agonist that can cause an elevation of blood glucose and plasma insulin in pregnant women. Hyperglycemia can occur in women with abnormal carbohydrate metabolism because of their inability to release more insulin.

(B) Hypokalemia can occur resulting from the action of the _-mimetics. It results from a displacement of the extracellular potassium into the intracellular space.

(C) Ritodrine causes vasodilation of vessel walls, which can lead to hypotension. The body compensates by increasing heart rate and pulse pressure.

(D) There is a lowering of serum iron resulting from the action of _-mimetics to activate hematopoiesis.