Question

A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 225 mcg for a pediatric Client who has a heart rate above 90/min. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to ensure administration of the right dose? Select all that apply?

a) Validate that the dose is within the safe range.

b)Confirm the medication amount is appropriate for the child.

c) Verify that the medication is not expired.

d) Check the client's heart rate prior to administration.

e) Document the administration in the medication administration record.

Answer 1

Digoxin is a class of drug that increases the force of contraction of the cardiac muscle by restricting the activity of an enzyme known as ATPase and control the movement of calcium, sodium and potassium into heart muscle. Digoxin is having very narrow therapeutic index and is highly toxic in overdose. During administration of digoxin to the child, nurses should ensure administration of the right dose. For ensuring, a nurse must validate that the dose is within the safe range, because of its low therapeutic index, the dose must be calculated properly as per the condition of the heart rate, so the amount of drug is to be confirmed before administration to the child. The expiry date of the drug must be checked, because it may affect the actual drug administration and its effect on heart. The nurse should check the heart rate before the administration of digoxin and all are documented properly in the medication administration record.

Therefore, options (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) are the correct actions nurse to follow to ensure right administration of digoxin to the child