Question

The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client admitted for acute decompensated heart failure. Which action is the priority before giving this drug?

A
Auscultate the lungs for crackles in the bases
B
Monitor oxygen saturation on room air
C
Assess the apical pulse for a full minute Correct Answer (Blank)
D
Assess the client's weight and compare to the baseline

Answer 1

The priority action before administering digoxin to a client with heart failure is to assess the apical pulse for a full minute, ensuring heart rate safety for drug administration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Administering Digoxin to a Heart Failure Patient

When preparing to administer digoxin to a client with acute decompensated heart failure, the priority action is to assess the apical pulse for a full minute. Digoxin affects the heart rate and force of contraction, and it is crucial to ensure that the client's heart rate is within a safe range before administering this medication. A low heart rate could be an indication of digoxin toxicity or other complications that may necessitate a change in the treatment plan. Furthermore, it's essential to verify the dosage with the client's current condition, as an incorrect dose could exacerbate heart failure symptoms or cause additional cardiac complications.

While monitoring oxygen saturation and assessing lung sounds are important in the overall management of heart failure, they are not the immediate priority before administering digoxin. Assessing the patient's weight is also important for long-term management, but again, not the immediate priority before drug administration. Therefore, the correct answer is to assess the apical pulse.