Before administering digoxin, which assessment should the nurse perform?

When administering digoxin, it is essential for the nurse to assess the apical pulse for one full minute. This is crucial because digoxin has a significant effect on heart rate and can cause bradycardia (a slower than normal heart rate). It is important to ensure that the apical pulse is within an acceptable range before administration.

If the heart rate is below a certain threshold—often set at 60 beats per minute or lower for adults—it may indicate that the medication should not be given, as it can further decrease the heart rate, leading to potential cardiac complications. This assessment is a vital safety measure to monitor the patient’s heart function and prevent adverse effects.

While the other assessments such as blood pressure, temperature, and respiratory rate are also important in the overall evaluation of a patient's condition, they are not as directly relevant to the immediate action of administering digoxin. The focus on the apical pulse directly relates to the pharmacodynamics of digoxin and its potential impact on heart rate, making it a priority assessment prior to administration.