A stable client has a regular narrow-complex tachycardia that persists after vagal maneuvers. Place the nursing actions in order.
Ordered Response
Choose your responses, then check the answer.
Explanation
After confirming a stable regular rhythm and monitoring readiness, adenosine is given by rapid IV push followed immediately by saline, then the response and need for the next step are assessed.
Quick answer Use the sequence verify, rapid push, immediate flush, observe, reassess.
Why this is correct Adenosine has an extremely short half-life, so the rapid push and immediate saline flush form one administration event. Continuous rhythm and hemodynamic monitoring show the diagnostic and therapeutic response.
Easy analogy or mental picture The medication is a very short message; the flush carries it quickly to the heart before it disappears.
NCLEX decision rule Confirm stability and regularity before using the narrow-complex adenosine pathway.
Why the other choices are wrong A slow infusion, delayed flush, or failure to reassess can make the dose ineffective or miss deterioration.
References
1AHA 2025 Adult Tachyarrhythmia With a Pulse AlgorithmInitial support, regular narrow-complex pathway, rapid adenosine administration, flush, and rhythm reassessment
Adenosine sequenceDocument rhythm width and regularity, stability, vagal response, IV site, dose and flush time, rhythm strip, symptoms, pressure, and next-step authorization.