A nurse is planning to administer digoxin to a client who has heart failure. Which of the following laboratory results is the priority for the nurse to review prior to administering the medication?

Hemoglobin

Creatinine

Blood urea nitrogen

Potassium

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A.   Hemoglobin levels are important for assessing oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. While anemia can affect tissue oxygenation and exacerbate symptoms in heart failure, it is not directly related to the risk of digoxin toxicity.
B.   Creatinine levels are used to assess kidney function. Impaired kidney function can affect the clearance of digoxin from the body, potentially increasing the risk of toxicity. However, potassium levels have a more direct impact on the risk of digoxin toxicity.
C.   BUN levels are also used to assess kidney function. Similar to creatinine, impaired kidney function can affect digoxin clearance, but potassium levels are more directly related to the risk of digoxin toxicity.
D.   Potassium levels are critical because hypokalemia (low potassium) can predispose the client to digoxin toxicity. Digoxin competes with potassium for binding sites on the sodium-potassium ATPase pump in cardiac cells. When potassium levels are low, digoxin can bind more readily to these pumps, leading to increased toxicity and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.

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Correct Answer is ["B","C","D"]

No explanation

A. Respiratory alkalosis B. Metabolic acidosis C. Metabolic alkalosis D. Respiratory acidosis

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Respiratory alkalosis is characterized by a high pH (alkaline) and a low PaCO2 (<35 mm Hg). The ABG results provided show a pH of 7.3 (which is acidic) and a PaCO2 of 50 mm Hg (which is elevated). Therefore, these results do not indicate respiratory alkalosis.
B. Metabolic acidosis is characterized by a low pH (<7.35) and a decreased bicarbonate (HCO3-). The ABG results show a pH of 7.3 (acidic), which aligns with metabolic acidosis. However, the PaCO2 of 50 mm Hg is elevated, which typically indicates respiratory compensation for the metabolic acidosis.
C. Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by a high pH and an elevated bicarbonate (HCO3-). The ABG results show a pH of 7.3 (acidic), which does not suggest metabolic alkalosis.
D. Respiratory acidosis is characterized by a low pH and an elevated PaCO2 (>45 mm Hg). The ABG results provided show a pH of 7.3 (acidic) and a PaCO2 of 50 mm Hg (elevated). These findings are consistent with respiratory acidosis, where the elevated PaCO2 indicates retention of carbon dioxide, leading to acidosis.

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A nurse is planning to administer digoxin to a client who has heart failure. Which of the following laboratory results is the priority for the nurse to review prior to administering the medication?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is obtaining informed consent from a client who is preoperative. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)

Correct Answer is ["B","C","D"]

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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