The home health nurse is conducting an initial home visit for an infant who was recently discharged from the hospital with heart failure. During this visit, the nurse is discussing the proper administration of digoxin with the parents. Which intervention(s) should the nurse include when providing guidance to the parents? Select all that apply.
Instruct to give additional dose if the baby vomits after administration.
Demonstrate how to measure the correct amount of the oral solution.
Notify the healthcare provider before giving digoxin if your baby is ill.
Show the correct technique to obtain an apical pulse.
Administer digoxin on a strict every 12-hour schedule.
Correct Answer : B,C,D,E
A. Instruct to give additional dose if the baby vomits after administration: Giving an extra dose after vomiting can result in digoxin toxicity because the exact amount absorbed is uncertain. Parents should never repeat a dose without consulting the healthcare provider.
B. Demonstrate how to measure the correct amount of the oral solution: Accurate measurement is critical for safe digoxin administration, as small errors can lead to underdosing or toxicity. Using an appropriate oral syringe or dropper ensures the correct dose.
C. Notify the healthcare provider before giving digoxin if your baby is ill: Illness can affect heart rate, hydration, and electrolyte balance, which increases the risk of digoxin toxicity. Parents should contact the provider to determine whether to hold or adjust the dose.
D. Show the correct technique to obtain an apical pulse: Digoxin can slow the heart rate. Parents should learn to assess the apical pulse for a full minute and understand the parameters for withholding medication based on heart rate guidelines.
E. Administer digoxin on a strict every 12-hour schedule: Maintaining consistent timing ensures stable blood levels, improving efficacy and reducing the risk of toxicity. A strict schedule is essential for therapeutic effectiveness.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Place the client in the Trendelenburg position: While this position may increase venous return, it does not address the underlying cause in a pregnant client, which is usually aortocaval compression by the uterus. Simply tilting the table may be less effective than proper lateral displacement.
B. Remove the client's legs from the stirrups: Removing the legs may relieve some discomfort but does not correct the maternal hypotension caused by pressure on the inferior vena cava. Additional interventions are needed to improve circulation.
C. Instruct the client to take deep breaths: Deep breathing may help with anxiety or mild shortness of breath but does not resolve the hemodynamic compromise caused by supine hypotensive syndrome.
D. Place a wedge under the client's hip: Placing a wedge under the right or left hip tilts the uterus off the inferior vena cava, improving venous return, cardiac output, and blood pressure. This is the priority action to relieve dizziness, pallor, and diaphoresis in a pregnant client at 26 weeks’ gestation.
Correct Answer is {"A":{"answers":"B"},"B":{"answers":"A"},"C":{"answers":"A"},"D":{"answers":"A"},"E":{"answers":"B,B"},"F":{"answers":"B"},"G":{"answers":"A,B"}}
Explanation
• Chest pain: Blood clot embolism, especially pulmonary embolism, typically causes sudden chest pain due to obstruction of the pulmonary arteries. Fat embolism rarely causes chest pain as the primary symptom, though hypoxia may lead to discomfort. Chest pain is therefore more indicative of thrombotic embolism.
• Petechiae: Petechiae on the neck, upper chest, and conjunctiva are hallmark signs of fat embolism. They result from occlusion of dermal capillaries by fat globules and platelet aggregation. Blood clot embolism does not usually cause petechiae.
• Origin typically long bone fracture: Fat emboli commonly originate from fractures of long bones such as the femur, tibia, or pelvis. Trauma forces fat from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, creating emboli. Blood clot emboli generally do not arise from bone fractures.
• Altered mental status: Fat embolism can impair cerebral oxygenation, leading to confusion, lethargy, or agitation. This neurological involvement is a distinguishing feature of fat embolism. Blood clot embolism rarely affects mental status unless there is severe hypoxia.
• Dyspnea: Dyspnea occurs in both fat and blood clot embolism due to impaired oxygen exchange in the lungs. In fat embolism, hypoxia may develop gradually, while blood clot embolism often causes sudden shortness of breath. Both conditions require prompt respiratory support.
• Origin typically deep vein thrombosis: Blood clot emboli usually originate from deep veins in the legs or pelvis and travel to the lungs. Fat emboli are not associated with venous thrombi. Identifying the source helps differentiate between the two embolism types.
• Tachycardia: Tachycardia is a compensatory response to hypoxia or stress in both fat and blood clot embolism. It helps maintain oxygen delivery to vital organs. While nonspecific, its presence supports the need for urgent intervention in either condition.
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