Final answer:
An infant with a HR of 88 bpm while on digoxin may indicate bradycardia, especially since infants usually have a much higher HR. Healthcare providers should assess for symptoms and may need to adjust the medication. Additionally, the percent uncertainty of an infant's pulse rate measured at 130 ± 5 beats/min is approximately 3.85%.
Step-by-step explanation:
An infant prescribed digoxin with a heart rate (HR) of 88 beats per minute (bpm) may be concerning, as infants typically have higher resting HRs. For a resting infant, a normal heart rate can range widely but is usually between 100 to 160 bpm. Since the HR of this infant is below this range, it suggests bradycardia, which could mean the heart is not pumping enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. Digoxin is a medication used to treat various heart conditions, including heart failure and atrial fibrillation, and it can also slow down the heart rate. Therefore, it's essential for healthcare professionals to monitor the infant's HR closely.
In this situation, a healthcare provider should assess the infant for other signs and symptoms of bradycardia, such as weakness, fatigue, and poor feeding. If symptoms are present, or if the HR is so low that it falls below the safe threshold, immediate medical attention might be necessary. In such instances, adjusting the digoxin dose or looking at alternative treatments might be considered, in addition to supportive care for the infant.
When considering the percent uncertainty in the measurement of an infant's pulse rate, which is given as 130 ± 5 beats/min, the calculation would be (5/130)*100, equating to approximately 3.85% uncertainty. This demonstrates the variability or potential error margin in the heart rate measurement.