Before administering Digoxin, the nurse should complete which task?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Before administering Digoxin, the nurse should count the apical pulse for 1 minute. Digoxin is a cardiac medication that primarily works by increasing the force of contractions of the heart muscle. It is important to assess the patient's heart rate to ensure it is within the recommended range before administering Digoxin. This is because Digoxin can cause serious complications such as heart arrhythmias if given when the heart rate is too low. Counting the apical pulse for a full minute provides a more accurate assessment of the heart rate compared to shorter durations.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: In pharmacology, ACE inhibitors are a class of medications commonly used to treat conditions like hypertension and heart failure. The correct answer is C) %pril. The suffix "-pril" is a common ending for ACE inhibitors. Understanding drug suffixes can help students quickly identify and categorize medications based on their mechanism of action. Option A) %ale is incorrect because it does not relate to ACE inhibitors. Option B) %olol is incorrect as it is a common ending for beta-blockers, not ACE inhibitors. Option D) %ide is incorrect as it is not a typical ending for ACE inhibitors. Educationally, knowing drug suffixes can aid in memorization and recall of drug classes, making it easier for students to understand and differentiate between medications with similar uses. This knowledge is crucial for healthcare professionals in prescribing, administering, and monitoring drug therapies effectively. Understanding these naming conventions also helps to prevent medication errors and enhance patient safety.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Phenytoin is an anti-seizure medication commonly used to treat and prevent seizures in individuals with epilepsy. The desired outcome of taking Phenytoin is to decrease or completely stop seizures without causing excessive sedation. It works by stabilizing electrical activity in the brain to prevent abnormal firing of neurons that can lead to seizures. Therefore, the main goal of using Phenytoin is to control seizure activity and improve the quality of life for individuals with epilepsy.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Valproate is a medication classified as an anticonvulsant, which means it is primarily used to treat seizures and epilepsy. It works by stabilizing electrical activity in the brain and helping to prevent abnormal brain signals that can lead to seizures. Valproate is also used as a mood stabilizer to treat bipolar disorder and is sometimes prescribed for migraine prevention. It is not classified as an antiarrhythmic, anticoagulant, or any other type of drug.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Articaine is considered the most potent ester type of local anesthetic. It is known for its high efficacy in providing profound anesthesia due to its unique chemical structure that enhances its ability to penetrate tissues effectively. Articaine also has a rapid onset of action and a relatively long duration of action compared to other ester local anesthetics. These characteristics make it a popular choice for various dental and medical procedures where deep and long-lasting anesthesia is required.