A mother calls the nurse to report that at 0900 she administered an oral dose of digoxin to her 4-month-old infant, but at 0920 the baby vomited the medicine. Which instruction should the nurse provide to this mother?
Administer a half dose now.
Give another dose.
Mix the next dose with food.
Withhold this dose.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A: Administering a half dose now is not advisable, because it may result in underdosing or overdosing of digoxin. Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic range and a high risk of toxicity, especially in infants and children. The amount of digoxin absorbed by the infant before vomiting is unknown, so giving a partial dose may not achieve therapeutic levels or may exceed safe levels.
Choice B: Giving another dose is not advisable, because it may result in overdosing of digoxin. Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic range and a high risk of toxicity, especially in infants and children. The amount of digoxin absorbed by the infant before vomiting is unknown, so giving a full dose may exceed safe levels and cause adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, bradycardia, arrhythmias, or visual disturbances.
Choice C: Mixing the next dose with food is not advisable, because it may affect the absorption and bioavailability of digoxin. Digoxin should be taken on an empty stomach or at least one hour before or two hours after meals, because food can interfere with its absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and reduce its effectiveness.
Choice D: Withholding the dose is the safest option. If vomiting occurs within 30 minutes of administration, it’s generally advised to skip that dose to avoid the risk of overdose. The next dose should be given as scheduled Digoxin has a long half-life and accumulates in tissues, so missing one dose will not significantly affect its therapeutic effect. Withholding this dose will avoid overdosing and toxicity of digoxin, which can be life-threatening in infants and children. The nurse should also advise the mother to resume the regular dosing schedule and monitor the infant's pulse rate and signs of digoxin toxicity.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A: Advising the client to place one nitroglycerin tablet under his tongue as a precaution is a dangerous action for the nurse, as this can cause severe hypotension and cardiovascular collapse due to the interaction between tadalafil and nitroglycerin. This is a contraindicated choice.
Choice B: Telling the client to have someone bring him to an emergency department immediately is an unnecessary action for the nurse, as there is no evidence of any serious adverse reaction or complication from tadalafil. This is an overreaction choice.
Choice C: Instructing the client to increase his intake of oral fluids until the skin flushing is relieved is not an appropriate action for the nurse, as this does not address the cause of the flushing, which is vasodilation due to tadalafil. This is a distractor choice.
Choice D: Reassuring the client that skin flushing is a common side effect of the medication is an appropriate action for the nurse, as this can calm the client and educate him about the expected effects of tadalafil. Therefore, this is the correct choice.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A: Monitoring indwelling urinary catheter and measure strict intake and output is not an action that the nurse should immediately take, as this is not relevant or urgent for a client who may have had a stroke. This is a distractor choice.
Choice B: Keeping the bed in the lowest position and initiating seizure and fall precautions is not an action that the nurse should immediately take, as this is a preventive measure that does not address the acute problem of impaired cerebral perfusion. This is another distractor choice.
Choice C: Starting two large bore IV catheters and reviewing inclusion criteria for IV fibrinolytic therapy is an action that the nurse should immediately take, as this can prepare the client for potential administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA., which can dissolve blood clots and restore blood flow to the brain if given within 4.5 hours of stroke onset. Therefore, this is the correct choice.
Choice D: Maintaining elevated positioning of the dependent joints on affected side is not an action that the nurse should immediately take, as this can worsen edema and impair circulation in the affected limbs. The recommended position is to keep them at or below heart level. This is another distractor choice.
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