A 19-month-old child is admitted to the hospital for surgical repair of patent ductus arteriosus. The child is being given digoxin. Prior to administering the medication, the nurse should:

Question

Options

• ANot give the digoxin if the pulse is_60
• BNot give the digoxin if the pulse is_100
• CTake the apical pulse for a full minute
• DMonitor for visual disturbances, a side effect of digoxin

• A
  9% (2)
• B
  5% (1)
• C
  86% (19)

Explanation

(A) Digoxin should not be given to adults with an apical pulse < 60 bpm. (B) Digoxin should be given to children with an apical pulse > 100 bpm. With a pulse < 100 bpm, the medication should be withheld and the physician notified. (C) Prior to digoxin administration in both children and adults, an apical pulse should be taken for 1 full minute. Aside from the rate per minute, the nurse should note any sudden increase or decrease in heart rate, irregular rhythm, or regularization of a chronic irregular heart rhythm. (D) Early indications of digoxin toxicity, such as visual disturbances, occur rarely as initial signs in

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