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: D

Rationale: Metoprolol would be the best choice because it has an extended-release form that only needs to be taken once a day, which should increase patient compliance. Acebutolol, atenolol, and bisoprolol do not come in extended-release forms. The nurse should consider the patient’s lifestyle and preferences when selecting antihypertensive medications to improve adherence.

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: A

Rationale: Ondansetron is an example of a serotonin antagonist antiemetic that is effective in preventing and treating nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy. It works by blocking serotonin receptors both peripherally on vagal nerve terminals and centrally in the chemoreceptor trigger zone. By antagonizing serotonin, ondansetron helps to reduce the emetic response triggered by chemotherapy, leading to improved control of nausea and vomiting. In contrast, the other options (B. fluoxetine, C., D. paroxetine, E. sertraline) are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used mainly for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, and they do not have the same antiemetic properties as ondansetron.

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.