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CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS
EXAM 2025| BRAND NEW ACTUAL EXAM WITH 100%
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT SOLUTIONS|
GUARANTEED VALUE PACK| ACE YOUR GRADES.
What is the MOST appropriate action for the nurse to take before administering
digoxin?
a. monitor potassium level
b. assess blood pressure
c. evaluate urinary output
d. avoid giving with thiazide diuretic - (answers)a. monitor potassium level
Monitoring potassium is especially important because hypokalemia potentiates
digoxin toxicity. Digoxin exhibits its therapeutic and toxic effects by poisoning the
sodium-potassium ATPase. The subsequent increase in intracellular sodium leads
to increased intracellular calcium by decreasing calcium expulsion through the
sodium-calcium, cation exchanger. Blood pressure and urinary output are
incorrect because these data reflect overall CV status but are not specific for
digoxin.
Which of the following clients is at greatest risk for digital toxicity?
A. a 25 yr old client with congenital heart disease.
B. a 50 yr old client with CHF
C. a 60 yr old client after myocardial infarction
D. an 80 yr old with CHF - (answers)D. an 80 yr old with CHF
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Extremely old clients are at greater risk for digitalis toxicity. Remember when it
comes to adversity, the very old and very young are always at the highest risk.
There are no evidence-based guidelines for the management of mild to moderate
toxicity so there is a wide variation in treatment. Severe toxicity requires hospital
admission and consideration of the need for digoxin-specific antibody fragments.
Although digoxin-specific antibody fragments are safe and effective, randomized
trials have not been performed.
Which of the following is a contraindication for digoxin administration?
A. blood pressure of 140/90
B. heart rate above 80
C. heart rate below 60
D. repiratory rate above 20 - (answers)C. heart rate below 60
The apical heart rate must be monitored during therapy with digoxin, and the
drug held for a pulse below 60 and above 120. Remember that digoxin lowers the
heart rate; therefore, the choice that reflects a low heart rate is the best
selection. Digoxin toxicity is clinically relevant as it can lead to fatal cardiac
arrhythmias. The estimated frequency is at about 0.8 to 4% of patients on steady
digoxin therapy. The rate of toxicity increases as serum digoxin concentration
reaches over 2.0 ng/ml.
The action of medication is inotropic when it: - (answers)increases the force of
contraction
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Inotropic drugs increase the force of contraction. Preload, not afterload, is
decreased. Chronotropic drugs increase heart rate. Treatment of CHF is an
indication for use not an action of the inotropic drug. Inotropes increase cardiac
contractility which improves cardiac output (CO), aiding in maintaining MAP and
perfusion to the body.
The therapeutic drug level for digoxin is:
A. 0 1-2.0 ng/mg
B. 1.0-2.0 ng/mg
C. 0.1-0.5 ng/mg
D. 0.5-2.0 ng/mg - (answers)D. 0.5-2.0 ng/mg
Blurred vision or halos are signs of:
A. subtherapeutic digoxin levels
B. digoxin toxicity
C. nothing related to digoxin
D. corneal side effects of digoxin - (answers)B. digoxin toxicity
Halos is a hallmark sign of digoxin toxicity. Digoxin exhibits its therapeutic and
toxic effects by poisoning the sodium-potassium ATPase. The subsequent increase
in intracellular sodium leads to increased intracellular calcium by decreasing
calcium expulsion through the sodium-calcium, cation exchanger. A, C and D are
incorrect because subtherapeutic digoxin levels have no such effects.
CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS
EXAM 2025| BRAND NEW ACTUAL EXAM WITH 100%
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT SOLUTIONS|
GUARANTEED VALUE PACK| ACE YOUR GRADES.
What is the MOST appropriate action for the nurse to take before administering
digoxin?
a. monitor potassium level
b. assess blood pressure
c. evaluate urinary output
d. avoid giving with thiazide diuretic - (answers)a. monitor potassium level
Monitoring potassium is especially important because hypokalemia potentiates
digoxin toxicity. Digoxin exhibits its therapeutic and toxic effects by poisoning the
sodium-potassium ATPase. The subsequent increase in intracellular sodium leads
to increased intracellular calcium by decreasing calcium expulsion through the
sodium-calcium, cation exchanger. Blood pressure and urinary output are
incorrect because these data reflect overall CV status but are not specific for
digoxin.
Which of the following clients is at greatest risk for digital toxicity?
A. a 25 yr old client with congenital heart disease.
B. a 50 yr old client with CHF
C. a 60 yr old client after myocardial infarction
D. an 80 yr old with CHF - (answers)D. an 80 yr old with CHF
,2|Page
Extremely old clients are at greater risk for digitalis toxicity. Remember when it
comes to adversity, the very old and very young are always at the highest risk.
There are no evidence-based guidelines for the management of mild to moderate
toxicity so there is a wide variation in treatment. Severe toxicity requires hospital
admission and consideration of the need for digoxin-specific antibody fragments.
Although digoxin-specific antibody fragments are safe and effective, randomized
trials have not been performed.
Which of the following is a contraindication for digoxin administration?
A. blood pressure of 140/90
B. heart rate above 80
C. heart rate below 60
D. repiratory rate above 20 - (answers)C. heart rate below 60
The apical heart rate must be monitored during therapy with digoxin, and the
drug held for a pulse below 60 and above 120. Remember that digoxin lowers the
heart rate; therefore, the choice that reflects a low heart rate is the best
selection. Digoxin toxicity is clinically relevant as it can lead to fatal cardiac
arrhythmias. The estimated frequency is at about 0.8 to 4% of patients on steady
digoxin therapy. The rate of toxicity increases as serum digoxin concentration
reaches over 2.0 ng/ml.
The action of medication is inotropic when it: - (answers)increases the force of
contraction
, 3|Page
Inotropic drugs increase the force of contraction. Preload, not afterload, is
decreased. Chronotropic drugs increase heart rate. Treatment of CHF is an
indication for use not an action of the inotropic drug. Inotropes increase cardiac
contractility which improves cardiac output (CO), aiding in maintaining MAP and
perfusion to the body.
The therapeutic drug level for digoxin is:
A. 0 1-2.0 ng/mg
B. 1.0-2.0 ng/mg
C. 0.1-0.5 ng/mg
D. 0.5-2.0 ng/mg - (answers)D. 0.5-2.0 ng/mg
Blurred vision or halos are signs of:
A. subtherapeutic digoxin levels
B. digoxin toxicity
C. nothing related to digoxin
D. corneal side effects of digoxin - (answers)B. digoxin toxicity
Halos is a hallmark sign of digoxin toxicity. Digoxin exhibits its therapeutic and
toxic effects by poisoning the sodium-potassium ATPase. The subsequent increase
in intracellular sodium leads to increased intracellular calcium by decreasing
calcium expulsion through the sodium-calcium, cation exchanger. A, C and D are
incorrect because subtherapeutic digoxin levels have no such effects.
