Ordered: Digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.25 mg

Available: Digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.125 mg per tablet

Administer: _____tab(s)

A. Check temperature and SPO2

When the nurse finds an adult patient's pulse rate to be 140 beats per minute, it is important to assess other vital signs, particularly temperature and oxygen saturation (SPO2). This helps gather additional information to understand the overall clinical picture and assess for potential underlying causes of the elevated heart rate.

B. Report the rate to the primary care provider:

Reporting the heart rate to the primary care provider may be necessary, but it should not be the immediate action. Assessing other vital signs first provides a more comprehensive understanding.

C. Check the pulse again in 2 hours:

Waiting for 2 hours to recheck the pulse is not appropriate when the heart rate is significantly elevated. Immediate action and further assessment are needed.

D. Record the information:

Recording the elevated heart rate is part of documentation, but it should be accompanied by a more comprehensive assessment of vital signs and potential contributing factors.

A. Wheezes:

Wheezes are high-pitched, musical sounds that occur during inspiration or expiration and are often associated with narrowed airways, such as in conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

B. Stridor:

Stridor is a high-pitched, crowing sound that is typically heard during inspiration and can be associated with upper airway obstruction, such as in croup or epiglottitis.

C. Rhonchi:

Rhonchi are low-pitched, snoring or rattling sounds that can occur during inspiration or expiration. They are often associated with the presence of mucus or other airway obstruction and can be heard in conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia.

D. Crackles:

Crackles are bubbling, popping sounds heard during inspiration or expiration. They can be further classified as fine or coarse. Fine crackles are often associated with conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, while coarse crackles can be heard in conditions like congestive heart failure or pneumonia.