Prior to giving digoxin, the practical nurse (PN) assesses that a 2-month-old infant's heart rate is 120 beats/minute. Based on this finding, which action should the PN take?
Hold the medication and recheck the heart rate in l hour.
Administer the medication and document the heart rate.
Administer the medication and alert the charge nurse.
Hold the medication and document cardiac assessment.
The Correct Answer is B
Digoxin is a medication used to treat various heart conditions, such as abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. It works by improving the strength and efficiency of the heart, or by controlling the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat.
One of the important things to monitor when giving digoxin to an infant is the pulse rate. Digoxin can lower the heart rate, which can be dangerous if it becomes too slow. Therefore, the pulse rate should be checked for one full minute before administering digoxin, and the medication should be held if the pulse rate is below 90 beats per minute (bpm) for an infant.
In this case, the infant’s heart rate is 120 bpm, which is within the normal range for a 2-month-old. Therefore, the correct action for the PN to take is to administer the medication and document the heart rate. This is option b in the list of choices. Option a is incorrect because there is no need to hold the medication or recheck the heart rate in one hour. Option c is incorrect because there is no need to alert the charge nurse unless there is a problem with the infant’s condition or the medication. Option d is incorrect because holding the medication and documenting cardiac assessment is not appropriate for a normal heart rate.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
This is the factor that the PN should consider the most likely to increase the client's risk for falls because it can cause orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, or fainting, especially when the client changes position or gets up from bed or a chair. The PN should monitor the client's blood pressure and pulse before and after administering the medication and assist the client with ambulation and transfers.
Correct Answer is B
No explanation
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