If a patient reports dizziness after medication administration, what steps should you take?

• A. Advise patient to lie down and drink water.
• B. Check blood pressure and heart rate only, no further actions.
• C. Assess; check blood pressure/heart rate; rule out orthostatic changes; adjust dose if needed with prescriber approval; and monitor.
• D. Stop all medications immediately.

Answer: (C)

When dizziness occurs after medication administration, the priority is to assess for a potential adverse effect or medication-induced hypotension and ensure patient safety. Start by obtaining vitals, including blood pressure and heart rate, and do so in more than one position (for example, lying down and standing if possible) to check for orthostatic changes. If you detect or strongly suspect orthostatic hypotension, involve the prescriber to adjust the dose or hold the medication as appropriate, then continue to monitor the patient closely for improvement or further changes. This approach directly addresses the cause, involves medical direction for any dose adjustment, and emphasizes ongoing safety, rather than relying on a single action like lying down and drinking water, recording vitals only, or stopping all medications without guidance.