What is a priority intervention for a patient with hypotension and a low heart rate?

What is a priority intervention for a patient with hypotension and a low heart rate?

• A. Administer a dose of diuretic medication
• B. Ensure the morning digoxin isn’t administered
• C. Transfer the patient to a different unit
• D. Administer a pain reliever

Answer: (B)

In a clinical scenario where a patient presents with hypotension and a low heart rate, the priority intervention is to ensure that digoxin is not administered. This is crucial because digoxin can further decrease heart rate, which could exacerbate the patient's bradycardia (low heart rate) and compromise cardiovascular stability. Digoxin works by increasing the force of heart contractions but can also lead to increased vagal tone, which lowers heart rate. By withholding the digoxin, the healthcare provider is prioritizing the stabilization of the patient's cardiac function, as administering it could lead to potential complications such as worsening bradycardia or hypotension. Therefore, maintaining careful management of medications that can impact heart rate is essential in this situation. The other options would not appropriately address the immediate concern of the patient's low heart rate and hypotension, as they either involve unnecessary interventions or may worsen the condition.

In a clinical scenario where a patient presents with hypotension and a low heart rate, the priority intervention is to ensure that digoxin is not administered. This is crucial because digoxin can further decrease heart rate, which could exacerbate the patient's bradycardia (low heart rate) and compromise cardiovascular stability. Digoxin works by increasing the force of heart contractions but can also lead to increased vagal tone, which lowers heart rate.

By withholding the digoxin, the healthcare provider is prioritizing the stabilization of the patient's cardiac function, as administering it could lead to potential complications such as worsening bradycardia or hypotension. Therefore, maintaining careful management of medications that can impact heart rate is essential in this situation.

The other options would not appropriately address the immediate concern of the patient's low heart rate and hypotension, as they either involve unnecessary interventions or may worsen the condition.