Question

the nurse takes an infant's apical pulse before administering digoxin. what is the usually accepted level of pulse rate considered safe for administering digoxin to an 8-month-old infant?

Answer 1

When administering digoxin to an infant, the safe apical pulse rate is typically considered to be 90 to 110 beats per minute. The percent uncertainty for an infant's pulse rate of 130 ± 5 beats/min is 3.85%. Monitoring heart rate is crucial as part of the Apgar score, and especially before administering medications such as digoxin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The safe pulse rate level for administering digoxin to infants can vary; however, a commonly accepted lower limit for an infant's heart rate is typically around 90 to 110 beats per minute before giving medication. Apical pulse is critically assessed in infants, especially before administering cardiac medications like digoxin, because it can affect heart function.

The percent uncertainty in an infant's pulse rate measured to be 130 ± 5 beats/min is calculated by dividing the uncertainty (5 beats/min) by the measured value (130 beats/min) and then multiplying by 100 to get the percentage. Therefore, the percent uncertainty = (5/130) × 100 = 3.85%.

The Apgar score includes heart rate as one of its components, making it a vital sign to monitor closely in newborns and infants. Low heart rates may require medical attention, and each medication administration requires careful consideration of heart rate and overall wellbeing.