The nurse prepares to administer digoxin 0.125 mg PO to a client who has chronic heart failure. The laboratory report reveals a digoxin level of 2.5 mg/mL. Which nursing action is most appropriate at this time?

Assess the apical pulse and if above 60 beats/minute administer the dose.

Administer 0.25 mcg and potassium 20 mEq IV.

Withhold the medication and notify the healthcare provider of the digoxin level.

Administer the digoxin with a potassium supplement.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: This is incorrect. Assessing the apical pulse is not enough to determine if the client is safe to receive digoxin. The client's digoxin level is already above the therapeutic range of 0.5 to 2 ng/mL¹² and giving another dose could increase the risk of toxicity and arrhythmias.

Choice B reason: This is incorrect. Administering 0.25 mcg of digoxin and potassium 20 mEq IV is not appropriate for this client. The client does not need more digoxin or potassium, as both could worsen the client's condition. Potassium levels should be monitored closely in clients taking digoxin, as low or high levels can affect the drug's action and toxicity³.

Choice C reason: This is correct. Withholding the medication and notifying the healthcare provider of the digoxin level is the most appropriate action for this client. The client's digoxin level is dangerously high and could cause serious adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, vision changes, bradycardia, and cardiac arrest³. The healthcare provider may order to stop digoxin temporarily, adjust the dose, or prescribe an antidote such as digoxin immune fab⁴.

Choice D reason: This is incorrect. Administering the digoxin with a potassium supplement is not advisable for this client. The client's digoxin level is already too high and adding potassium could increase the risk of hyperkalemia, which can impair the heart's electrical activity and lead to cardiac arrest³. Potassium supplements should only be given to clients with digoxin-induced hypokalemia, and only under the supervision of the healthcare provider³..

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Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: While gaining weight and having pink buccal mucosa can be signs of overall improved health, they are not specific indicators of effective treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency¹².

Choice B reason: Paresthesia (a sensation of tingling, tickling, pricking, or burning of a person's skin) of the hands and feet is a common symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency¹². If the client no longer has this symptom, it could indicate that the treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency has been effective¹².

Choice C reason: Eating more iron-fortified cereals can contribute to overall nutritional health, but it's not directly related to the treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency¹².

Choice D reason: While stopping alcohol consumption can improve overall health, it's not a specific indicator of effective treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency¹²..

A. Perform daily weights. B. Take the blood pressure. C. Auscultate breath sounds. D. Measure urinary output.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Performing daily weights is the best method to evaluate the client's response to furosemide, a drug that reduces fluid retention and swelling by increasing the urine output. ¹ Daily weights can help monitor the changes in the client's fluid status and the effectiveness of the drug. The nurse should weigh the client at the same time each day, using the same scale and clothing.

Choice B reason: Taking the blood pressure is not the best method to evaluate the client's response to furosemide. Furosemide can also lower the blood pressure by reducing the volume of fluid in the blood vessels. ¹ However, blood pressure can be influenced by many other factors, such as heart rate, stress, or medications. Blood pressure is not a reliable indicator of the client's fluid status or the effectiveness of the drug.

Choice C reason: Auscultating breath sounds is not the best method to evaluate the client's response to furosemide. Furosemide can help improve the breath sounds by reducing the fluid accumulation in the lungs, which can cause shortness of breath or crackles. ¹ However, breath sounds can also be affected by other factors, such as lung infections, asthma, or allergies. Breath sounds are not a reliable indicator of the client's fluid status or the effectiveness of the drug.

Choice D reason: Measuring urinary output is not the best method to evaluate the client's response to furosemide. Furosemide can increase the urinary output by stimulating the kidneys to excrete more water and electrolytes. ¹ However, urinary output can also vary depending on the fluid intake, kidney function, or other medications. Urinary output is not a reliable indicator of the client's fluid status or the effectiveness of the drug.

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The nurse prepares to administer digoxin 0.125 mg PO to a client who has chronic heart failure. The laboratory report reveals a digoxin level of 2.5 mg/mL. Which nursing action is most appropriate at this time?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The client diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency presents to the outpatient department for the follow-up evaluation. Which nursing assessment finding indicates that the treatment has been effective? The client:

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

The client has been prescribed furosemide 40 mg IV to treat peripheral edema. Which method should the nurse use to best evaluate the client's response to this medication?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Which data indicates to the nurse that the client's current dose of simvastatin has been effective?

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The nurse auscultates a systolic murmur in the second intercostal space to the right of the sternum while performing a cardiac assessment on a client. The nurse interprets this finding as:

The client with pernicious anemia asks why vitamin B12 injections are necessary. What is the best response by the nurse?

Which statement, made by the client with coronary artery disease, alerts the nurse that the client may be experiencing difficulty adapting to the illness?

The nurse recognizes that which diagnostic test is used to detect the most common cause of chronic iron deficiency anemia?