A nurse is preparing to administer a dose of digoxin to a client who is experiencing heart failure. Which of the following actions should the take prior to administering this medication?

A. Auscultate the client's lung sounds: While lung sounds are important to assess in clients with heart failure, auscultating lung sounds is not directly required before administering digoxin. The immediate concern with digoxin is its effect on heart rate and rhythm. B. Check the client's weight: Monitoring weight is important in heart failure management to assess fluid retention, but weight measurement is not necessary immediately prior to administering a dose of digoxin. C. Check the client's apical pulse: Before giving digoxin, it is critical to assess the client's apical pulse for one full minute. If the pulse is below a specified rate (60 beats/min for adults), the dose may need to be withheld and the provider notified due to the risk of digoxin-induced bradycardia. D. Obtain the client's oxygen saturation: Oxygen saturation is important in evaluating respiratory function, but it is not a priority action before administering digoxin. The primary safety check is heart rate assessment.