Included In This Lesson
Study Tools
Gestational Hypertension, Preeclampsia, Eclampsia
(Care Plans)
Preeclampsia Pathochart
(Cheat Sheet)
140 Must Know Meds
(Books)
Magnesium Sulfate
(Picmonic)
Outline
Overview
- Magnesium Sulfate
- Indications
- Treat hypomagnesemia
- Normal range 1.5-2.5
- Torsade de point
- Lethal arrhythmia caused by low Mg level- Code Blue!
- Preeclampsia
- Control seizures in pregnant women
- Maintain magnesium levels for patients receiving TPN
- Acute Asthma Exacerbations
- When patient is not responding to other treatments – usually last resort
- Treat hypomagnesemia
- Indications
Nursing Care
Assessment
- Look for signs of Hyper magnesemia (toxicities = side effects of getting too much magnesium)
- Low bp
- Confusion
- Irregular heart beat
- Dizziness
- Muscle weakness
- Increase bleeding time
- Diarrhoea
- Depressed reflexes
- Resp distress (very rare usually level >3)
Therapeutic Management
- Monitor magnesium levels closely
- Monitor kidney function
- Monitor vital signs frequently when giving Magnesium via IV
- Looking for signs of respiratory depression and irregular heart rythms
Nursing Concepts
- Pharmacology
- Magensium is a medication that may be prescribed for a variety of conditions in a hospital setting and requires close monitoring for toxicities.
Patient Education
- Patients should be instructed to only take magnesium supplements under instructions of a provider.
- Patient should monitor for signs of hypermagnesemia and instructed to contact their provider if they experience heart arrhythmias and changes in respiratory patterns.
Tarang Patel, DNP-NA, RN, CCRN, RPh 
Nichole Weaver, MSN/Ed, RN, CCRN 
Miriam Wahrman, MSN/Ed, RNC-MNN 
Kara Tarr, BSN, RN 
Nacole Riccaboni, MSN, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CCRN, CMC