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RN Nursing · Cardiac Glycosides · Practice question

A nurse is providing teaching about digoxin administration to the parents of a toddler who has heart failure. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

Answer & explanation

Correct: "Have your child drink a small glass of water after swallowing the medication."

Having the child drink a small amount of water after taking digoxin helps ensure the full dose is swallowed and prevents oral residue. If the child vomits after a dose, the dose should NOT be repeated — doubling could cause toxicity. Digoxin should never be mixed into a large amount of food or drink because if the child doesn't finish it, the full dose is not received. A half-cup of juice is too large a volume and would risk incomplete dosing. Hypokalemia increases digoxin toxicity risk, so potassium intake should not be limited; adequate potassium is protective. (ATI Pharmacology: Cardiac Glycosides; Hockenberry & Wilson, Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children.)

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