NUR 2115 EXAM SCRIPT VERIFIED
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE ANSWERS
GRADED A+
●● Mrs. Houston is a 78-year-old woman who resides in an assisted
living facility. Her doctor prescribed digoxin at her last visit to the clinic
and she has approached the nurse who makes regular visits to the
assisted-living facility about this new drug. What teaching point should
the nurse emphasize to Mrs. Houston?
The importance of having required laboratory work performed on time
The need to take the medication at the same time each day regardless of
her heart rate
The correct technique for using a home blood pressure cuff
Timing household activities to coincide with the administration times of
her digoxin
Answer: The importance of having required laboratory work performed
on time
Explanation:
Patients taking digoxin need to know the importance of having all
laboratory work (serum drug levels; electrolytes) performed on time.
Digoxin is not taken if the patient is bradycardic, and it does not provide
,an immediate or short-term increase in exercise tolerance. Blood
pressure monitoring is not normally required for patients who are taking
digoxin.
●● What is the most accurate method for preventing adverse effects
associated with the use of digoxin?
Teach patients to take their digoxin in divided doses with each meal.
Assess the patient's heart rate and hold administration if it is less than
60.
Teach patients the signs and symptoms of heart failure.
Monitor therapeutic effects based on echocardiogram results.
Answer: Assess the patient's heart rate and hold administration if it is
less than 60.
Explanation:
Patients should be taught to hold their digoxin if their heart rate is less
than 60 (or some other defined heart rate). Divided doses are not
normally used and an awareness of heart failure does not preclude
adverse effects of digoxin.
●● The nurse is to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. The
nurse auscultates an apical pulse rate of 52. What action should the nurse
take?
,Administer medication
Notify the physician
Assess the blood pressure
Administer half of the dose
Answer: Notify the physician
Explanation:
Before administering each dose of digoxin, take the apical pulse rate for
60 seconds. If the apical rate is below 60 beats per minute, withhold the
drug and notify the physician. Blood pressure is not affected by digoxin.
Without prescriptive authority, the nurse cannot change medication
dosages.
●● After teaching a class of students about heart failure and drug
therapy, the instructor determines that the teaching has been successful
when the students identify which drug as most often used as treatment?
Answer: Digoxin
Explanation:
, Digoxin is the drug most often used to treat heart failure. Human B-type
natriuretic peptide, nitrate, or furosemide also may be used, but these
drugs are not the ones most commonly used.
●● When educating a group of nursing students on the mechanisms of
action of digitalis, the nurse identifies what as the pharmacological
actions of digitalis? (Select all that apply.)
Answer: It increases cardiac output by positive inotropic action
It decreases the heart rate through negative chronotropic effect
It retards the conduction velocity through the AV node in the heart
Explanation:
The pharmacological actions of digitalis are increased cardiac output,
decreased heart rate, and retarding conduction velocity. Digitalis
increases cardiac output by positive inotropic action. It does not have
negative inotropic action. It decreases the heart rate through negative
chronotropic effect. In atrial fibrillation rapid atrial contractions are
seen. Digitalis is used to treat atrial fibrillation.
●● A patient with class-IV CHF has a medication regimen consisting of
metoprolol (Lopressor), enalapril (Vasotec), and furosemide (Lasix). In
addition to regularly assessing the patient's heart rate, the nurse should
prioritize assessment of the patient's
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE ANSWERS
GRADED A+
●● Mrs. Houston is a 78-year-old woman who resides in an assisted
living facility. Her doctor prescribed digoxin at her last visit to the clinic
and she has approached the nurse who makes regular visits to the
assisted-living facility about this new drug. What teaching point should
the nurse emphasize to Mrs. Houston?
The importance of having required laboratory work performed on time
The need to take the medication at the same time each day regardless of
her heart rate
The correct technique for using a home blood pressure cuff
Timing household activities to coincide with the administration times of
her digoxin
Answer: The importance of having required laboratory work performed
on time
Explanation:
Patients taking digoxin need to know the importance of having all
laboratory work (serum drug levels; electrolytes) performed on time.
Digoxin is not taken if the patient is bradycardic, and it does not provide
,an immediate or short-term increase in exercise tolerance. Blood
pressure monitoring is not normally required for patients who are taking
digoxin.
●● What is the most accurate method for preventing adverse effects
associated with the use of digoxin?
Teach patients to take their digoxin in divided doses with each meal.
Assess the patient's heart rate and hold administration if it is less than
60.
Teach patients the signs and symptoms of heart failure.
Monitor therapeutic effects based on echocardiogram results.
Answer: Assess the patient's heart rate and hold administration if it is
less than 60.
Explanation:
Patients should be taught to hold their digoxin if their heart rate is less
than 60 (or some other defined heart rate). Divided doses are not
normally used and an awareness of heart failure does not preclude
adverse effects of digoxin.
●● The nurse is to administer digoxin to a client with heart failure. The
nurse auscultates an apical pulse rate of 52. What action should the nurse
take?
,Administer medication
Notify the physician
Assess the blood pressure
Administer half of the dose
Answer: Notify the physician
Explanation:
Before administering each dose of digoxin, take the apical pulse rate for
60 seconds. If the apical rate is below 60 beats per minute, withhold the
drug and notify the physician. Blood pressure is not affected by digoxin.
Without prescriptive authority, the nurse cannot change medication
dosages.
●● After teaching a class of students about heart failure and drug
therapy, the instructor determines that the teaching has been successful
when the students identify which drug as most often used as treatment?
Answer: Digoxin
Explanation:
, Digoxin is the drug most often used to treat heart failure. Human B-type
natriuretic peptide, nitrate, or furosemide also may be used, but these
drugs are not the ones most commonly used.
●● When educating a group of nursing students on the mechanisms of
action of digitalis, the nurse identifies what as the pharmacological
actions of digitalis? (Select all that apply.)
Answer: It increases cardiac output by positive inotropic action
It decreases the heart rate through negative chronotropic effect
It retards the conduction velocity through the AV node in the heart
Explanation:
The pharmacological actions of digitalis are increased cardiac output,
decreased heart rate, and retarding conduction velocity. Digitalis
increases cardiac output by positive inotropic action. It does not have
negative inotropic action. It decreases the heart rate through negative
chronotropic effect. In atrial fibrillation rapid atrial contractions are
seen. Digitalis is used to treat atrial fibrillation.
●● A patient with class-IV CHF has a medication regimen consisting of
metoprolol (Lopressor), enalapril (Vasotec), and furosemide (Lasix). In
addition to regularly assessing the patient's heart rate, the nurse should
prioritize assessment of the patient's
