Question

A nurse is collecting data from an older adult client who has been taking digoxin for the past several months. For which of the following manifestations of digoxin toxicity should the nurse monitor?

A. Anorexia
Rationale: Clients who take digoxin are at risk for toxicity due to the medication's narrow therapeutic range. Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting are some of the early manifestations of digoxin toxicity in adults. In children, cardiac dysrhythmias are often the first manifestation of digoxin toxicity.
B. Ataxia
Rationale: Weakness is a manifestation of digoxin toxicity; however, ataxia, a lack of muscle coordination, is not present with digoxin toxicity.
C. Hearing deficits
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity causes halos around lights, yellow vision, and blurred vision; however, hearing deficits are not a manifestation of digoxin toxicity.
D. Jaundice
Rationale: Jaundice is a sign of sulfonylurea toxicity in older adults; however, jaundice is not a
manifestation of digoxin toxicity.

Answer 1

The nurse should monitor for anorexia as it is one of the early signs of digoxin toxicity, along with nausea and vomiting, due to digoxin's narrow therapeutic range.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse monitoring an older adult client who has been taking digoxin should be vigilant for signs of digoxin toxicity. The correct answer is A. Anorexia. This is because some of the early manifestations of digoxin toxicity include anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic range, and therefore, there is a significant risk of toxicity, particularly in older adults. It is crucial to monitor for these symptoms because they can precede more serious complications such as cardiac dysrhythmias.