Question

Respond to one of the topics below in one to two paragraphs and it must have critical thinking in mind.

1.Anaphylaxis: Indication and nursing actions
2. Pain Management and control
3. Interpreting Arterial Blood Gases
4. Tracheostomy Care
5. Teaching about Digoxin use for Heart Failure patients

Answer 1

Ans) 5) Teaching about Digoxin use for Heart Failure patients:

- Digoxin is one of several medications used to treat the symptoms of heart failure. It may also be prescribed if you have atrial fibrillation (a common irregular heart rhythm).

- Types of digoxin include: Digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps, Digitek)

- Digoxin may be useful for maintaining clinical stability and exercise capacity in patients with symptomatic heart failure.

- Digoxin should be used as a second-line drug after diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers in patients with congestive heart failure who are in sinus rhythm.

- Teach patient to take pulse and to contact health care professional before taking medication if pulse rate is <60 or >100.

- Pediatric: Teach parents or caregivers that changes inheart rate, especially bradycardia, are among the first signs of digoxin toxicity in infants and children.

- Follow your doctor's advice, which may include: eat a low-sodium diet, take a potassium supplement, or include high-potassium foods, such as bananas and orange juice, in your eating plan.

- People with heart failure who take digoxin are commonly given medicines called diuretics. This drugs remove excess fluid from the body. Many diuretics can cause potassium loss. A low level of potassium in the body can increase the risk of digitalis toxicity.

Pathophysiology – Digoxin Toxicity. Digoxin blocks the sodium/potassium ATPase pump. The mechanism by which this decreases AV conduction is not clear but is perhaps due to increased vagal tone. Intracellular calcium within the cardiac myocytes is increased by digoxin, resulting in increased inotropy, or contractility.

Toxicity Overdose: Therapeutic serum digoxin levels range from 0.5–2 ng/mL. Serum levels may be drawn 6–8 hr after a dose is administered, although they are usually drawn immediately before the next dose.