In this episode of Think Like a Nurse, created by Brooke Wallace, a veteran ICU nurse with 20 years of experience, published author, and clinical instructor, the team unpacks one of nursing’s most high-alert cardiac medications: digoxin (Lanoxin). The discussion makes complex pharmacology clear — from how digoxin strengthens heart contractions by blocking the sodium–potassium pump and increasing calcium inside the heart cell, to how it slows the heart rate through its effects on the AV node. Listeners learn essential nursing priorities: assess the apical pulse for one full minute, monitor rhythm and blood pressure, check electrolytes, and recognize high-risk factors such as age, kidney function, or diuretic use. The episode highlights early toxicity signs—nausea and loss of appetite before the visual or rhythm changes—and offers concise patient-teaching points on safe dosing, home pulse checks, and avoiding dangerous drug or herbal interactions. It’s a clear, confidence-building conversation designed to help nursing students and new nurses understand not just the what, but the why behind digoxin safety.
If you’ve ever seen a high-yield NCLEX question about digoxin, this episode is for you. In Think Like a Nurse, created by Brooke Wallace, a 20-year ICU and organ transplant nurse and published author, we make one of nursing’s most high-alert drugs simple to understand. Learn how this cardiac glycoside strengthens the heart, when to hold the dose, how to catch early toxicity signs, and what to teach patients for safety at home. A quick, high-value pharmacology lesson every nursing student needs before the exam — and before the bedside.
This episode of Think Like a Nurse, created by Brooke Wallace, a veteran ICU and organ transplant nurse and published author, takes you deep into one of the most high-yield drugs in nursing: digoxin.
You’ll learn exactly how this powerful cardiac glycoside works, why it’s on every hospital’s high-alert list, and what nursing assessments can literally make the difference between help and harm.
We’ll walk through:
The mechanism of action (how digoxin strengthens contractions and slows the rate)
The must-do nursing assessments — including when to hold the dose
The early signs of toxicity that start in the GI tract, not the heart
The key electrolyte imbalances that raise risk (think potassium and magnesium)
The patient teaching points that keep people safe at home
It’s a clear, fast-paced conversation built to help nursing students and new nurses connect pathophysiology with practical bedside care — and think like a nurse with confidence.
🎧 Perfect for:
Nursing students studying pharmacology or preparing for the NCLEX
New graduate nurses learning safe medication practices
Any nurse wanting a quick, memorable review of digoxin safety