Question

A nurse is reviewing a client's medication prescription that reads, 'digoxin 0.25 by mouth every day.' Which of the following components of the prescription should the nurse verify with the provider? 1) Digoxin dosage 2) Method of administration 3) Frequency of administration 4) All of the above

Answer 1

The nurse should verify all components of the prescription, which includes the digoxin dosage, method, and frequency of administration to ensure the safety and correct treatment for the patient.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse reviewing a medication prescription that reads, 'digoxin 0.25 by mouth every day' should verify the complete prescription with the provider. It's important to check not just the digoxin dosage, but also the method of administration, and the frequency of administration to ensure patient safety and efficacy of treatment. While the prescription does specify the route (by mouth), verifying all components is a safeguard to prevent dosing errors, miscommunication, and to ensure the prescription adheres to optimal therapeutic protocols that align with the patient's health status and the specifics of the drug's pharmacokinetics, such as half-life, dose dependence, and potential side effects.

Answer 2

All components of the medication prescription—dosage, method of administration, and frequency—should be verified by the nurse to ensure proper drug administering and patient safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student asks which component of a medication prescription reading 'digoxin 0.25 by mouth every day' should the nurse verify with the provider. In verifying a prescription, a nurse must ensure the accuracy of all aspects including dosage, method of administration, and frequency of administration. Considering the critical nature of medication administration, especially with a drug like digoxin which has a narrow therapeutic window and potentially serious side effects, all the listed components are essential to review and confirm.

Dosage verification prevents administering a dose that may be either subtherapeutic or toxic. The method of administration should be confirmed to ensure that the medication is delivered in the manner intended for efficacy and safety. Frequency of administration must be checked to make sure that drug concentrations remain within the therapeutic range without resulting in toxicity or subtherapeutic dosing.