A patient has digoxin 0.25 mg intravenous push (IVP) prescribed. How would the nurse plan to administer this medication?

A. Administer small increments of IVP medication over 5 minutes, flush with normal saline: Digoxin IV push must be administered slowly, typically over at least 5 minutes, to reduce the risk of severe bradycardia, hypotension, or cardiac arrhythmias. Administering in small increments allows careful monitoring of the patient’s cardiac response. Flushing with normal saline before and after ensures the full dose is delivered and prevents drug interaction. B. Inject IVP medication into a primary IV bag and infuse over 5 minutes: Mixing digoxin directly into a primary IV fluid is not recommended because compatibility issues may occur, and the exact dose delivered can be difficult to control. IV push through a controlled line ensures accurate dosing and safety. C. Flush with normal saline over 5 minutes, administer IVP medication: Flushing before administering digoxin is unnecessary unless verifying line patency. Administering the flush first alone does not prevent complications if the drug is injected too rapidly; careful, slow IV push of the digoxin itself is the critical safety measure. D. Administer IVP medication, wait 5 minutes, flush with normal saline: Waiting after IV push without flushing may leave residual medication in the line, leading to incomplete dosing. Flushing immediately after administration ensures the patient receives the full prescribed dose safely and reduces risk of line incompatibility.