A nurse is providing education to a client with heart failure who will begin taking digoxin daily at home. Which of the following statements made by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply.)
This medication improves cardiac output by increasing the heart rate.
I will hold my dose and call my doctor if my heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute.
If I forget my daily dose, I will take a double dose the next day.
I will report any loss of appetite or nausea.
Correct Answer : B,D
A. Digoxin improves cardiac output by increasing the force of cardiac contractions, not by increasing the heart rate. In fact, it may slow the heart rate.
B. Holding the dose and calling the doctor if the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute is correct, as digoxin can cause bradycardia.
C. Doubling the dose is incorrect and dangerous. Missed doses should be handled according to physician instructions, typically by skipping the missed dose and taking the next scheduled dose.
D. Loss of appetite and nausea can be signs of digoxin toxicity and should be reported to the healthcare provider.
E. Frequent urination is not an expected side effect of digoxin; it is more commonly associated with diuretics.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Pleural effusion may be a complication of heart failure but does not directly explain the decreased urine output and elevated serum creatinine.
B. Myocardial infarction would present with different symptoms, such as chest pain, rather than decreased urine output and elevated creatinine.
C. Cardiorenal syndrome refers to the interdependence of the heart and kidneys, where chronic heart failure leads to worsening kidney function, causing symptoms like decreased urine output and elevated serum creatinine.
D. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is related to the use of heparin and presents with low platelet counts, not decreased urine output and elevated creatinine.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Elevated BUN can indicate kidney dysfunction but is not specific for assessing heart failure severity.
B. Elevated troponin levels indicate myocardial injury or infarction, not heart failure exacerbation.
C. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are directly correlated with the severity of heart failure, as they are released in response to ventricular volume expansion and pressure overload.
D. An electrocardiogram (ECG) can show arrhythmias or ischemia but does not directly measure heart failure severity.
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