NCLEX Question of the Day

November 24, 2025

Physiological Integrity QID 359

A nurse is monitoring a patient who recently started taking digoxin. Which clinical finding would prompt the nurse to withhold the medication and notify the healthcare provider?

A:
Potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L
B:
Baseline ECG showing first-degree AV block
C:
Heart rate of 76 beats per minute
D:
Blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg

Explanation

Hypokalemia (a potassium level lower than 3.5 mEq/L) can increase the risk of digoxin toxicity, which is potentially life-threatening. The nurse should withhold digoxin and notify the healthcare provider if the potassium level is low, as in this case (3.0 mEq/L). The other findings, while they may need to be addressed, do not present an immediate risk of digoxin toxicity.

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