The nurse admits a client to the emergency department with new-onset atrial fibrillation and a heart ...

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: While digoxin (Lanoxin) may be prescribed to help control the ventricular rate associated with atrial fibrillation, it would not be the drug of choice for a new-onset atrial fibrillation that could be converted to normal sinus rhythm.
Rationale 2: Disopyramide (Norpace) is usually only given to clients with life-threatening ventricular tachycardia.
Rationale 3: Ibutilide (Corvert) is a drug of choice for rapidly converting atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm.
Rationale 4: Lidocaine (Xylocaine) is not effective in treating atrial dysrhythmias.
Global Rationale: Ibutilide (Corvert) is a drug of choice for rapidly converting atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm. While digoxin (Lanoxin) may be prescribed to help control the ventricular rate associated with atrial fibrillation, it would not be the drug of choice for a new-onset atrial fibrillation that could be converted to normal sinus rhythm. Disopyramide (Norpace) is usually only given to clients with life-threatening ventricular tachycardia. Lidocaine (Xylocaine) is not effective in treating atrial dysrhythmias.