A nurse is preparing to administer a prescribed dose of digoxin to a client with a history of heart failure. Before giving the medication, which assessment is most critical to ensure safe administration?
Monitor the client’s blood pressure to ensure it is within safe limits before administering.
Check the client's apical pulse and withhold the medication if it is below 60 beats per minute.
Assess the client’s respiratory rate to rule out pulmonary complications.
Ask the client if they are experiencing chest pain before administering the medication.
The nurse must assess the client's apical pulse before administering digoxin as it can cause bradycardia. If the apical pulse is below 60 beats per minute in an adult, the medication should be withheld, and the healthcare provider should be notified. Monitoring blood pressure and respiratory rate are important but are not as directly linked to digoxin toxicity and its primary cardiovascular effects. Asking about chest pain may be relevant if there are other symptoms but is not part of routine pre-administration checks for this medication.
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Physiological Integrity
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