Patient teaching.
Patient teaching. A female patient is admitted to the cardiac floor. Medical history includes hypothyroidism, diabetes, and hypertension. The patient suffered a myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease 5 years ago. The patient was diagnosed with heart failure 1 year ago and has been managed with hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide) and captopril (Capoten). Over the past 2 months, the patient’s heart failure symptoms have been increasing in severity, with dyspnea and ankle edema occurring at rest or with minimal exertion.
The HCP orders:
- The HCP adds digoxin (Lanoxin) 0.125mg po daily to the patient’s regimen. The nurse is teaching the patient about digoxin. What should the nurse include in the patient teaching? Be thorough!
- Does the patient have risk factors for digoxin toxicity? If so, what are they and why do they put the patient at risk for digoxin toxicity?
- The patient’s symptoms continue to increase and the patient is diagnosed with acute heart failure and is moved to the ICU. The HCP replaces hydrocholorthiazide (Microzide) with IV furosemide (Lasix) and adds nitroprusside (Nitropress). Discuss some of the nursing considerations related to the addition of furosemide (Lasix) and nitroprusside (Nitropress) with the current medical regimen.
