Question

a nurse is educating a patient with a history of cardiac arrhythmia who is prescribed ondansetron for nausea. which statement should the nurse include regarding the potential cardiac effects of ondansetron?

• ondansetron should be avoided entirely in patients with any cardiac history.
• ondansetron should be taken with an antiarrhythmic medication to prevent any cardiac effects.
• ondansetron can cause qt interval prolongation, increasing the risk of serious arrhythmias.
• ondansetron has no known cardiac effects and is safe for all patients with arrhythmias.

Explanation:

Ondansetron is associated with QT interval prolongation, which poses a risk of serious arrhythmias, especially in patients with pre-existing cardiac arrhythmia. It does not need to be entirely avoided in all cardiac patients, nor is it routinely paired with antiarrhythmics, and it does have known cardiac risks.

Answer:

C. Ondansetron can cause QT interval prolongation, increasing the risk of serious arrhythmias.