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?

A. Route of administration
B. Dosage
C. Frequency
D. Brand name

Answer 1

The nurse should verify the dosage with the provider, particularly because drugs like digoxin have a narrow therapeutic window and individual patient factors must be considered to avoid toxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should verify the dosage of the medication with the provider. The prescription reads 'digoxin 0.25 by mouth every day,' and while the route of administration, frequency, and brand name all appear to be clear and typically standard, the absolute dosage for an individual could vary based on specific patient factors. These include, but are not limited to, patient mass, metabolic rate, history of liver or kidney dysfunction, and drug half-life. In particular for digoxin, a medication with a narrow therapeutic window, it's crucial to ensure that the correct dose is prescribed to avoid potential toxicity, especially if there are any risk factors present in the patient's health profile that could affect drug levels in the body.

Factors that influence the appropriate dosage of a drug include patient's mass, metabolic rate, liver and kidney function, and the drug's half-life and mechanism of action (whether it is dose dependent or time dependent). Potential side effects vary by drug and can range from mild to severe, influenced by the above-mentioned factors along with the concentration and rate of administration.