A patient has an acute myocardial infarction. Her electrocardiogram is normal except for a heart rate of 150 beats per minute. Her physician prescribes digoxin in both an initial "digitalizing" dose and a daily maintenance dose so that which will occur?
a. A specific level of medication will be reached in the blood.
b. Her heart rate will first speed up.
c. The drug will begin to weaken her heart's contraction.
d. The drug will improve her appetite.
ANS: A
The nurse should know about two different types of dosages for patients taking digoxin: the initial digitalizing dose and maintenance doses. More frequent and higher digitalizing doses are given when a patient begins taking digoxin so that a specific level of medication can be reached in the blood. Smaller maintenance doses are given once a day to maintain the blood level.
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A nurse at a health care facility is assigned to administer insulin to the client. Which of the following interventions should the nurse perform before administering each insulin dose?
A) Inspect the previous injection site for inflammation. B) Keep prefilled syringes horizontally. C) Check for symptoms of myalgia or malaise. D) Mix the insulin with sterile water in the syringe.
The nurse selects the most effective intervention for best support of regular bowel elimination and prevention of constipation, which is:
1. limit fluid intake to 32 to 50 ounces/day to compact stool. 2. small soapsuds enema every other day to cleanse bowel. 3. daily stool softeners, with consistent time to attempt elimination. 4. a strong laxative on a daily basis to encourage evacuation.
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Indicate whether the statement is true or false
This vial of Vantin® was reconstituted on July 24. When should it be discarded? 
A. August 8 B. July 31 C. On the manufacturer's listed expiration date D. August 20