BOB is a 50-year-old male patient who is admitted to theemergency department (ED) with the following symptoms:lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and feeling “weak all over.”He also complains that his heart is racing. His wife is present,and she tells the nurse that she and BOB were walking outside whenBOB said he did not feel well and that he was going to “pass out.”She relates that BOB sat down on the sidewalk and vomited. In theED, the nurse initiates the ordered intravenous (IV) therapy andplaces BOB on a heart monitor. A 12-lead electrocardiogram andblood work are also ordered. The bedside monitor shows asupraventricular tachycardia (SVT). BOB’s heart rate is 185beats/min, and his respiratory rate is 35 breaths/min. The nurseasks BOB if these symptoms have occurred previously, and BOBnods.
Four months later, BOB is back in the ED with shortness of breath,palpitations, and dizziness. He is connected to the cardiac monitorand has ventricular tachycardia.
What is the evidence-based treatment to save J.T.’s life? The nurserecognizes that this drug is a very toxic drug and has significantinteractions with other drugs. As the nurse prepares to give BOBdigoxin and warfarin, what should he or she be aware of beforeadministration?
