Question

A nurse instructs a patient about signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity. The nurse determines that teaching is successful if the patient makes which statement?

Select one:
a. "My doctor should be notified if diarrhea develops."
b. "The dose will be reduced if I develop memory loss."
c. "I should report any muscle weakness or nausea."
d. "If my heart is racing, the does may be too high."

Answer 1

The correct statement that indicates the patient understands the signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity is reporting muscle weakness or nausea, as both are common symptoms associated with digoxin toxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to educating a patient on the signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity. Among the options provided, the correct statement that indicates successful patient education is: 'I should report any muscle weakness or nausea.' This statement accurately reflects knowledge of digoxin toxicity symptoms which include gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and neurological or muscular symptoms like muscle weakness. Other signs of toxicity can include visual changes, confusion, and arrhythmias. It is crucial for patients to be aware of these symptoms as digoxin has a narrow therapeutic window and toxicity can occur at doses not much higher than the therapeutic dose.