Chapter 28: Drugs Used to Treat Heart Failure

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?

reduced therapeutic benefits of digoxin

Which instruction by the nurse will be included when teaching an adult patient about digoxin (Lanoxin) for management of heart failure?

report nausea and vomiting to your health care provider

Which action will the nurse implement while providing care to a patient with heart failure?

weigh the patient daily

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 mg to 0.010 mg/kg/day. Which is a safe medication dosage?

0.074 ng

Which drug is used to obtain vasodilation in the treatment of chronic heart failure?

ACE inhibitors

Which drug will be administered to a patient being admitted with severe digoxin intoxication?

Digoxin immune Fab (Digibind)

The nurse is providing teaching to a patient with heart failure who has been prescribed nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker. Which statement by the nurse is accurate?

This medication reduces the resistance your heart has to pump against.

The nurse is caring for a 3-year-old girl who has a congenital heart anomaly. The patient's current medications include digoxin and furosemide (Lasix). The apical pulse rate is 100 beats/min. Which action will the nurse take?

administer medication

What is the initial manifestation of digoxin toxicity in children?

atrial dysrhythmia

Which nursing assessment is most important to determine fluid status for a patient with heart failure?

daily weights

Th nurse monitors a patient receiving digoxin closely for toxicity when which other medication is prescribed?

furosemide (lasix)

Which action of ACE inhibitors results in effective treatment of heart failure?

increased cardiac output

Which agents stimulate the heart to increase the force of contractions, thereby increasing cardiac output?

inotropic