The practical nurse (PN) is providing care for a client who is receiving an aminoglycoside to treat a bacterial infection. To assess for signs of ototoxicity, which action should the PN take?

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 optionbin the list of choices. Optionais incorrect because there is no need to hold the medication or recheck the heart rate in one hour. Optioncis incorrect because there is no need to alert the charge nurse unless there is a problem with the infant’s condition or the medication. Optiondis incorrect because holding the medication and documenting cardiac assessment is not appropriate for a normal heart rate.

The correct answer is choice C. Assign the remainder of medication administration to another PN who is performing treatments.

Choice A rationale:

Asking unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to give medications to their assigned residents is not the best action to take in this situation. Medication administration requires a certain level of training and knowledge to ensure safe and accurate delivery. UAPs may not have the appropriate training and legal authorization to administer medications, which could lead to potential errors and harm to the residents.

Choice B rationale:

Documenting why all the medications were not given to each resident is not sufficient to address the issue at hand. While documentation is essential for record-keeping and communication, it does not resolve the problem of medication administration being left incomplete. The priority should be finding a qualified person to administer the remaining medications.

Choice C rationale:

This is the correct answer because assigning the remainder of medication administration to another PN who is performing treatments ensures that qualified and trained personnel are handling the medication administration. This PN is likely familiar with medication protocols and safety measures, reducing the risk of errors.

Choice D rationale:

Denying the medication aide's request to leave before all medications are given might not be practical if the aide is genuinely unwell or unable to continue working safely. The focus should be on ensuring that medication administration is completed by qualified staff rather than forcing the sick aide to stay.