Question

57. Before administering digoxin (Lanoxin) to a client, which of the following nursing assessments is a priority?

A) Auscultate breath sounds
B) Check for bowel sounds
C) Monitor the heart rate
D) Measure the blood pressure

Answer 1

The priority nursing assessment before administering digoxin is to monitor the heart rate to ensure the medication is given safely.

Step-by-step explanation:

Before administering digoxin (Lanoxin) to a client, the priority nursing assessment is to monitor the heart rate. Digoxin is a medication used to treat certain heart conditions, and assessing the heart rate is critical because digoxin can affect the electrical activity and contractility of the heart. Auscultation using a stethoscope is a valuable, simple, and effective diagnostic tool to assess a patient's heart sounds and can help detect any potential issues before administering the medication. However, the specific action of monitoring the heart rate ensures the medication is given safely, especially since an abnormally low heart rate (bradycardia) may contraindicate its use.