After the nurse gives IV atropine to a patient with symptomatic type 1. second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, which finding indicates that the drug has been effective?

Among the given options, the assessment data that indicate the need for immediate action by the nurse is a blood pressure of 103/54 mm Hg. This blood pressure reading indicates hypotension, which can be concerning for a post-angioplasty patient.

Angioplasty with stent placement is an invasive procedure, and patients may experience fluctuations in blood pressure during the immediate post-operative period. Hypotension after angioplasty can be a sign of inadequate cardiac output, which may be due to issues like bleeding, fluid loss, or heart dysfunction. Inadequate blood pressure can lead to decreased perfusion to vital organs, including the heart itself, and can be life-threatening.

Options A, B, and D are also important to address:

A) Heart rate 102 beats/min: A heart rate of 102 beats per minute may indicate tachycardia, which can be expected after a procedure like angioplasty. However, it is not as urgent of a concern as hypotension, and it may be a normal compensatory response to the body's stress.

B) Report of chest pain: Chest pain after angioplasty can be common, but it should be evaluated further to ensure it is not indicative of complications such as coronary artery spasms, clot formation, or restenosis of the treated artery. While this is an important issue to address, it does not take precedence over hypotension.

D) Pedal pulses 1+ bilaterally: This finding suggests that the peripheral pulses in the feet are weak, and it could be related to the patient's medical condition, medications, or positioning. While it requires attention, it is not an immediate threat to the patient's life compared to severe hypotension.

Therefore, the nurse should prioritize assessing and addressing the low blood pressure to prevent further complications and ensure the patient's stability. The nurse should promptly notify the healthcare provider and implement appropriate interventions, such as administering intravenous fluids, to increase blood pressure to a safe level.

Diuretics are the primary class of drugs used to treat volume overload in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). These medications help to increase urine output, reducing the overall fluid volume in the body and relieving congestion in the lungs and other tissues.

The goal of using diuretics in ADHF is to alleviate symptoms such as shortness of breath, edema (swelling), and fluid retention by promoting the elimination of excess fluid. The most commonly used diuretics in this setting are loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide, bumetanide), which have a potent diuretic effect and can rapidly reduce fluid overload.

While narcotics, vasodilators, and positive inotropes may have roles in specific cases of ADHF, they are not the primary drugs used to treat volume overload. Narcotics may be used for pain management, vasodilators to reduce afterload (the resistance the heart has to pump against), and positive inotropes to increase the heart's contractility in certain situations. However, the first-line treatment for volume overload in ADHF is diuretic therapy.