Prior to giving digoxin, the practical nurse (PN) assesses that a 2-month-old infant's heart rate is 120 beats/minute. Based on this, what action should the PN take?
Administer the medication and alert the charge nurse
Hold the medication and document cardiac assessment
Administer the medication and document the heart rate
Hold the medication and recheck the heart rate in 1 hour
The Correct Answer is C
The correct answer and explanation is:
c) Administer the medication and document the heart rate.
This is the action that the PN should take prior to giving digoxin to a 2-month-old infant whose heart rate is 120 beats/minute. Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside that is used to treat heart failure and arrhythmias. It has a narrow therapeutic range and can cause serious side effects such as bradycardia, hypotension, and toxicity. Therefore, it is important to monitor the client's vital signs before and after administering the medication. A normal heart rate for a 2-month-old infant is 100–190 beats/minute, so 120 beats/minute is within the normal range and does not indicate a need to hold the medication. The PN should administer the medication as prescribed and document the heart rate and any other relevant findings.
a) Administer the medication and alert the charge nurse.
This is not the action that the PN should take prior to giving digoxin to a 2-month-old infant whose heart rate is 120 beats/minute. Alerting the charge nurse is not necessary, as the heart rate is normal and does not indicate a problem with the medication or the client's condition. The PN should administer the medication as prescribed and document the heart rate and any other relevant findings.
b) Hold the medication and document cardiac assessment.
This is not the action that the PN should take prior to giving digoxin to a 2-month-old infant whose heart rate is 120 beats/minute. Holding the medication is not appropriate, as the heart rate is normal and does not indicate a contraindication or a risk of adverse effects from the medication. The PN should administer the medication as prescribed and document the heart rate and any other relevant findings.
d) Hold the medication and recheck the heart rate in 1 hour.
This is not the action that the PN should take prior to giving digoxin to a 2-month-old infant whose heart rate is 120 beats/minute. Holding the medication and rechecking the heart rate in 1 hour is not necessary, as the heart rate is normal and does not indicate a need for further evaluation or intervention. The PN should administer the medication as prescribed and document the heart rate and any other relevant findings.
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Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","E"]
Explanation
The level of hypoxemia that the child may have experienced during the submersion depends on several factors, but the most important ones are:
- The **temperature of water**: Cold water can induce a diving reflex, which lowers the heart rate and oxygen consumption, and may protect the brain from hypoxic injury. Cold water can also cause laryngospasm, which prevents water aspiration but also impairs gas exchange.
- The **amount of time the child was submerged**: The longer the submersion, the more severe the hypoxemia and the higher the risk of brain damage and death. The survival rate decreases significantly after 5 minutes of submersion.
The other factors are less relevant or not directly related to the level of hypoxemia:
- The **weight of the child**: This may affect the buoyancy and the ability to float or swim, but not the oxygen consumption or gas exchange during submersion.
- The **oxygen concentration of the ambient air**: This may affect the pre-submersion oxygen saturation, but not the rate of oxygen depletion or gas exchange during submersion.
- The **witnessing of the fall into the pool**: This may affect the time to rescue and resuscitation, but not the level of hypoxemia during submersion.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice D rationale:
Taking zolpidem before bedtime is the correct information to include in the education. Zolpidem is a medication used for the short-term treatment of insomnia and should be taken immediately before going to bed to facilitate sleep onset.
Choice A rationale:
Crushing zolpidem to increase absorption is not recommended. The medication should be taken whole and not crushed or chewed.
Choice B rationale:
Storing zolpidem at room temperature is correct. Like many medications, zolpidem should be stored at a controlled room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
Choice C rationale:
Administering zolpidem with a meal is not necessary and may delay the onset of its effects. It is typically taken on an empty stomach for faster absorption.
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