Question

The nurse is auscultating a 56-year-old adult client's apical heart rate before giving digoxin and notes that the heart rate is 48 beats/minute. Which action should the nurse take?

1.Withhold the digoxin, and re-evaluate the heart rate in 4 hours.
2.Administer half of the prescribed dose to avoid a further decrease in heart rate. 3.Withhold the digoxin, and assess for signs of decreased cardiac output and digoxin toxicity.
4.Administer the digoxin; the heart rate would be considered normal because of the client's age.

Answer 1

The nurse should withhold the digoxin and re-evaluate the heart rate in 4 hours.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the information provided, a normal resting heart rate for an adult is between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm). A heart rate of 48 bpm is below the normal range and considered bradycardia. Since the client is not exhibiting any symptoms, the nurse should withhold the digoxin, and re-evaluate the heart rate in 4 hours to determine if it remains low.

The nurse is auscultating a 56-year-old adult client's apical heart rate before giving digoxin and notes that the heart rate is 48 beats/minute. The appropriate action for the nurse to take would be to withhold the digoxin, and assess for signs of decreased cardiac output and digoxin toxicity. The normal heart rate (HR) for an adult is between 60-100 beats per minute (bpm), and a rate below this range, specifically under 60 bpm, is categorized as bradycardia. Digoxin is known to slow the heart rate, so administering it to a client who already has a slow heart rate could be dangerous. It is critical to assess the patient for clinical signs such as weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and other symptoms that may suggest the heart is not adequately supplying blood to the tissues. The nurse should report the findings to the healthcare provider for further evaluation and should not administer the medication or decide to give a partial dose without physician guidance.