The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. The nurse obtains an apical pulse rate for 1 minute and determines a rate of 52 beats/minute. What is the first action by the nurse?
A) Administer the medication and inform the charge nurse about the rate.
B) Withhold the medication and notify the physician of the heart rate.
C) Administer atropine to speed the heart rate and then administer the digoxin.
D) Administer the medications and then notify the physician.
B
Feedback:
Digitalis drugs are withheld if the heart rate is less than 60 or more than 120 beats/minute until a physician is consulted. The other choices would have the nurse administer the drug, which would not be the standard of practice.
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