What should be done if the patient's heart rate is 52 before administering digoxin?

Holding digoxin and calling the provider is the appropriate course of action when a patient presents with a heart rate of 52 beats per minute. Digoxin is a medication that increases the force of heart contractions and slows down the heart rate, particularly in conditions like atrial fibrillation. A heart rate below 60 beats per minute typically indicates bradycardia, which can pose risks, especially when administering cardiotropic drugs like digoxin.

Before administering digoxin, it is crucial to assess the patient's heart rate thoroughly. If the heart rate is below the accepted threshold (usually 60 for adults), it raises concerns about the potential for digoxin toxicity or exacerbation of bradycardia. In such cases, the nurse should hold the medication and notify the healthcare provider for further instructions. This decision ensures patient safety and enables the provider to evaluate the necessity for digoxin therapy or to consider alternative treatments.