The parents of a young child with heart failure tell the nurse that they are "nervous" about giving digoxin (Lanoxin). The nurse's response should be based on which statement?
A) It is a safe, frequently used drug.
B) It is difficult to either overmedicate or undermedicate with digoxin.
C) Parents lack the expertise necessary to administer digoxin.
D) Parents must learn specific, important guidelines for administration of digoxin.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Digoxin has a narrow therapeutic range. The margin of safety between therapeutic, toxic, and lethal doses is very small. Specific guidelines are available for parents to learn how to administer the drug safely and to monitor for side effects. Digoxin is a frequently used drug, but it has a narrow therapeutic range. Small amounts of the liquid are given to infants, making it easy to overmedicate or undermedicate. Parents may lack the necessary expertise to administer the drug at first, but with discharge preparation, they should be prepared to administer the drug safely.

The Parents of a Young Child with Heart Failure Tell