After administering atropine for symptomatic bradycardia, what is the priority nursing action?

• A. Discontinue medication
• B. Prepare for defibrillation
• C. Give epinephrine
• D. Close cardiac monitoring

Answer: (D)

After atropine for symptomatic bradycardia, the key action is to monitor the patient continuously to see how the heart responds. Atropine reduces vagal tone, increasing heart rate and AV conduction, so you need real-time feedback from continuous ECG monitoring and frequent vital signs to determine if the rhythm and rate improve and whether blood pressure stays stable. This ongoing assessment guides whether additional interventions, such as pacing or another medication, are needed. Stopping the drug or initiating defibrillation isn’t the immediate priority in this moment, and epinephrine would be considered if atropine alone doesn’t achieve the desired response. Continuous cardiac monitoring is the essential first step to guide next actions.