Nausea, vomiting, and an irregular heart rate develop in a patient who takes oral digoxin every morning. What is the nurse's best action?
a. Give prescribed diphenhydramine (Phenergan) as needed.
b. Check the patient's cardiac monitor strip.
c. Assess the apical pulse for a full minute.
d. Check laboratory results for a digoxin level.
D
Signs of digoxin overdose (toxicity) include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vi-sion problems. Other signs include heart rate or rhythm changes, palpitations, and fainting. When these signs and symptoms occur, hold the dose, notify the prescriber, and check the patient's se-rum digoxin level. This drug has a very narrow therapeutic range (0.8 to 2 ng/mL).
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The nurse is caring for a patient requiring digestive enzyme replacement therapy and establishes what appropriate nursing diagnosis for this patient?
A) Acute pain B) Risk for constipation C) Risk for imbalanced nutrition D) Bowel incontinence
A nurse provides teaching for a patient about to begin taking an FGA drug for schizophrenia. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching about side effects of these drugs?
a. "Dry mouth and constipation are uncom-mon with this medication." b. "I may experience gynecomastia and ga-lactorrhea." c. "I may feel lightheaded or dizzy and should sit or lie down if this occurs." d. "Sedation may occur initially, but will subside in 1 to 2 weeks."
A patient has a digoxin level of 1.1 ng/mL. Which interpretation by the nurse is correct?
a. It is below the therapeutic level. b. It is within the therapeutic range. c. It is above the therapeutic level. d. It is at a toxic level.
A patient is in the hospital with suspected intracerebral hemorrhage. Which neurologic test is most likely to be prescribed for this patient?
A. X-rays of the spine B. Evoked potentials C. Electroencephalogram (EEG) D. Computed tomography (CT)