A Patient with Heart Failure Who Has Been Given Digoxin

question 8

Multiple Choice

A patient with heart failure who has been given digoxin [Lanoxin] daily for a week complains of nausea. Before giving the next dose, the nurse will:

• A) assess the heart rate (HR) and give the dose if the HR is greater than 60 beats/min.
• B) contact the provider to report digoxin toxicity.
• C) request an order for a decreased dose of digoxin.
• D) review the serum electrolyte values and withhold the dose if the potassium level is greater than 3.5 mEq/L.

---

Definitions:

Amino Acids

Organic compounds containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group, and a side chain that varies between different amino acids, essential for protein synthesis.

Glycine

The simplest amino acid with the formula NH2CH2COOH, used in the biosynthesis of proteins.

Alanine

A nonessential amino acid used by the body to build proteins and involved in metabolism.

Aspartic Acid

An amino acid with the formula C4H7NO4, important in the biosynthesis of proteins.