Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 76%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a 16-month-old infant.Prior to administering the dose, the nurse measures the apical heart rate. The nurse should withhold the dose if the infant's apical heart rate is less than what rate?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The correct answer is A: 90 beats per minute. Infants have higher heart rates compared to adults. A heart rate below 90 bpm in infants may indicate bradycardia, which can lead to decreased cardiac output and oxygen delivery. Withholding the dose is crucial to prevent adverse effects. Choice B (50 bpm) is too low for infants and indicates severe bradycardia. Choice C (70 bpm) is slightly low for infants. Choice D (120 bpm) is within a normal range for infants.