What should you do if a patient has a heart rate of 52 and has an order to receive digoxin?

When a patient has a heart rate of 52 beats per minute, this indicates bradycardia, which can be a significant concern when considering the administration of digoxin. Digoxin is a medication that is often used to treat heart failure and certain types of arrhythmias; however, it can also induce bradycardia as a side effect.

In scenarios of bradycardia, particularly if the heart rate is below 60 beats per minute, it is essential to hold the digoxin and notify the healthcare provider for further evaluation. This is because administering digoxin can exacerbate the bradycardia and lead to potential complications. The safe practice involves assessing the patient's clinical status, reviewing their full medication profile, and consulting with the provider for guidance on whether to continue with digoxin, adjust the dosage, or consider alternative treatments.

Therefore, holding the digoxin in this situation is the appropriate course of action to ensure patient safety and to allow for professional assessment by a provider.