Question

The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.25mg intravenous push to a patient. Which is an expected patient outcome related to the administration of digoxin?

A. Low serum potassium

B. Reduction in urine output

C. Increase in blood pressure

D. Decrease in the heart rate

Answer 1

The administration of digoxin is expected to decrease the heart rate, as it has a negative chronotropic effect by increasing the force of heart contractions and effectively slowing down the heart.

Step-by-step explanation:

The expected patient outcome related to the administration of digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.25mg intravenous push is D. Decrease in the heart rate. Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that has a positive inotropic effect, which means it increases the force of heart contractions. At the same time, it has a negative chronotropic effect, which means it decreases the heart rate. This can be beneficial in conditions where the heart needs to pump more efficiently, such as in heart failure or atrial fibrillation. Digoxin does this by inhibiting the sodium-potassium ATPase pump, leading to an increase in intracellular calcium concentrations that help to strengthen cardiac contractions and slow down the heart rate.