Question 1
Question
A patient about to receive a morning dose of digoxin has an apical pulse of 53 beats/min. What
will the nurse do next?
Answer
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a. Administer the dose.
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b. Administer the dose, and notify the prescriber.
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c. Check the radial pulse for 1 full minute.
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d. Withhold the dose, and notify the prescriber.
Question 2
Question
A patient is taking digoxin (Lanoxin) and a loop diuretic daily. When the nurse enters the room
with the morning medications, the patient states, “I am seeing a funny yellow color around the
lights.” What is the nurse’s next action?
Answer
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a. Assess the patient for symptoms of digoxin toxicity.
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b. Withhold the next dose of the diuretic.
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c. Administer the digoxin and diuretic together as ordered.
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d. Document this finding, and reassess in 1 hour.
Question 3
Question
While assessing a patient who is receiving intravenous digitalis, the nurse recognizes that the
drug has a negative chronotropic effect. How would this drug effect be evident in the patient?
Question 4
Question
A patient has been taking digoxin at home but took an accidental overdose and has developed
toxicity. The patient has been admitted to the telemetry unit, where the physician has ordered
digoxin immune Fab (Digifab). The patient asks the nurse why the medication is ordered. What
is the nurse’s best response?
Answer
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a. “It will increase your heart rate.”
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b. “This drug helps to lower your potassium levels.”
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c. “It helps to convert the irregular heart rhythm to a more normal rhythm.”
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d. “This drug is an antidote to digoxin and will help to lower the blood levels.”
Question 5
Question
A patient has been placed on a milrinone (Primacor) infusion as part of the therapy for end-stage
heart failure. What adverse effect of this drug will the nurse watch for when assessing this
patient during the infusion?
Answer
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Hypertension
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Hyperkalemia
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Nausea and vomiting
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Cardiac dysrhythmias
Question 6
Question
A patient has a digoxin level of 1.1 ng/mL. Which interpretation by the nurse is correct?
Answer
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It is below the therapeutic level.
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It is within the therapeutic range.
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It is above the therapeutic level.
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It is at a toxic level.
Question 7
Question
The nurse is reviewing discharge teaching for a patient who will be taking digoxin (Lanoxin)
therapy. The nurse will teach the patient to avoid which foods when taking the digoxin?
Answer
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Leafy green vegetables
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Dairy products
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Grapefruit juice
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Bran muffins
Question 8
Question
In assessing a patient before administration of a cardiac glycoside, the nurse knows that which
lab result can increase the toxicity of the drug?
Question 9
Question
The nurse administering the phosphodiesterase inhibitor milrinone (Primacor) recognizes that
this drug will have a positive inotropic effect. Which result reflects this effect?
Answer
-
Increased heart rate
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Increased blood vessel dilation
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Increased force of cardiac contractions
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Increased conduction of electrical impulses across the heart
Question 10
Question
The nurse notes in a patient’s medical record that nesiritide (Natrecor) has been ordered. Based
on this order, the nurse interprets that the patient has which disorder?
Question 11
Question
When administering digoxin immune Fab (Digibind) to a patient with severe digoxin toxicity,
the nurse knows that each vial can bind with how much digoxin?
Question 12
Question
A patient is in the intensive care unit and receiving an infusion of milrinone (Primacor) for
severe heart failure. The prescriber has written an order for an intravenous dose of furosemide
(Lasix). How will the nurse give this drug?
Answer
-
Infuse the drug into the same intravenous line as the milrinone.
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Stop the milrinone, flush the line, and then administer the furosemide.
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Administer the furosemide in a separate intravenous line
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Notify the prescriber that the furosemide cannot be given at this time.
Question 13
Question
When a patient is experiencing digoxin toxicity, which clinical situation would necessitate the
use of digoxin immune Fab (Digifab)? (Select all that apply.)
Answer
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The patient reports seeing colorful halos around lights.
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The patient’s serum potassium level is above 5 mEq/L.
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The patient is experiencing nausea and anorexia.
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The patient is experiencing severe sinus bradycardia that does not respond to
cardiac pacing.
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The patient has received an overdose of greater than 10 mg of digoxin.
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The patient reports fatigue and headaches.
Question 14
Question
Which drug classes are considered first-line treatment for heart failure? (Select all that apply.)
Answer
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Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
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Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
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Digoxin (cardiac glycoside)
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Beta blockers
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Nesiritide (Natrecor), the B-type natriuretic peptide
Question 15
Question
The medication order for a 4-year-old child reads, “Give digoxin elixir, 15 mcg/kg, PO now.”
Convert the micrograms to milligrams. ______