Question

A nurse is preparing to administer morning medications to a client with heart failure. The morning lab values are: sodium 142 mEq/L (142 mmol/L), potassium 2.9 mEq/L (2.9 mmol/L), digoxin level 1.4 ng/mL. Which of the following medications should the nurse not administer until after speaking with the health care provider?

A
Spironolactone
B
Carvedilol (Coreg)
C
Ferrous sulfate
D
Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Answer 1

The nurse should withhold Digoxin (Lanoxin) and consult with the healthcare provider due to the client's low potassium level, as hypokalemia increases the risk for digoxin toxicity and arrhythmias.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should not administer Digoxin (Lanoxin) until after speaking with the healthcare provider due to the client's low potassium level (hypokalemia).

Hypokalemia can lead to dangerous cardiac arrhythmias, and digoxin toxicity is more likely to occur in the setting of low potassium levels. It is critically important to correct the potassium level before giving digoxin to avoid potential complications such as digoxin toxicity, which can cause life-threatening arrhythmias. Therefore, the nurse should consult with the healthcare provider before administering this medication. Other medications like spironolactone, which is a potassium-sparing diuretic, might be beneficial in this case, but a healthcare provider's guidance is essential.