NCLEX RN Practice Question

The nurse must assess the client's apical pulse before administering digoxin as it can cause bradycardia. If the apical pulse is below 60 beats per minute in an adult, the medication should be withheld, and the healthcare provider should be notified. Monitoring blood pressure and respiratory rate are important but are not as directly linked to digoxin toxicity and its primary cardiovascular effects. Asking about chest pain may be relevant if there are other symptoms but is not part of routine pre-administration checks for this medication.