A patient taking digoxin (Lanoxin) has all of the following laboratory blood values. Which value does the nurse report to the prescriber before administering the next dose of digoxin?

a. Sodium 133 mEq/L
b. Potassium 2.8 mEq/L
c. Blood urea nitrogen 9 mg/dL
d. White blood cell count 11,000 cells/mm3


B
Serum potassium level affects the activity of digoxin. A value of 2.8 is low (hypokalemia). Any abnormal potassium value (high or low) requires the prescriber to change the digoxin dosage. In addition, action is needed to bring this critical electrolyte value back to its normal range. Al-though the other laboratory values are slightly abnormal, none are critically abnormal or likely to have an effect on digoxin activity.

Nursing

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