An older adult male patient with long-term heart failure has ...

[shenderson6]

An older adult male patient with long-term heart failure has presented for an office visit. The nurse obtains information that he has recently begun taking St. John's wort. What results with the use of this herbal supplement?
 
  a. Digoxin toxicity
  b. Altered potassium electrolyte balance
  c. Reduced therapeutic benefits of digoxin
  d. Enhanced digoxin effectiveness without producing toxicity

Question 2

The nurse is to administer digoxin to an 18-month-old patient who weighs 16.5 lb. Guidelines for administration read as follows: 0.0075 to 0.010 mg/kg/day. Which is a safe medication dosage?
 
  a. 0.05 mg
  b. 0.12 mg
  c. 0.074 mg
  d. 0.75 mg

[Briannahope]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
St. John's wort is a drug that may reduce therapeutic benefits of digoxin. St. John's wort has the opposite effect on digoxin and does not affect electrolytes.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
16.5 lb converts to 7.5 kg; 7.5 kg  0.0075 mg = 0.05625; 7.5 kg  0.010 mg = 0.075 mg; 0.074 mg is the only answer within the safe dosage range. Values of 0.05 mg, 0.12 mg, and 0.75 mg are too large.

[shenderson6]

Excellent

[komodo7]

Great answer, keep it coming