A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child following an orthopedic procedure. When assessing the child for pain, which of the following pain scales should the nurse use?

A. Another formulation of potassium should be given IV: The type of potassium formulation isn't the issue in this scenario.

B. Potassium chloride should be diluted in dextrose 5% in water: While potassium chloride can be administered in different solutions, the primary concern here is the infusion rate, not the specific diluent.

C. The client should be treated by giving potassium by IV bolus: The concern here is the rate of administration, not the route. Potassium is commonly administered through an IV infusion rather than a bolus due to the risk of cardiac arrhythmias associated with rapid administration.

D. A nurse is caring for a client who is to receive potassium replacement. The nurse should clarify the prescription with the provider because the potassium infusion rate is too rapid.

The prescription indicates that the client should receive potassium chloride 30 mEq in 0.9% sodium chloride 100 mL IV over 30 minutes. This rate of administration is too fast for potassium replacement and could lead to potentially serious complications, such as hyperkalemia or cardiac arrhythmias. The typical recommended rate for potassium replacement is 10-20 mEq/hour, and this prescription exceeds that range.

A. Multiple health problems: Older adults often have multiple chronic health conditions, which can increase the risk of interactions between medications or exacerbate the effects of certain drugs.
B. Decreased renal function: As people age, their kidney function tends to decrease, which can affect the clearance of drugs from the body. Drugs that are primarily excreted through the kidneys may accumulate in older adults with reduced renal function.
C. Polypharmacy: Older adults are more likely to be taking multiple medications simultaneously. This increases the risk of drug interactions and adverse effects.
D. Decreased percentage of body fat: With age, there is a decrease in lean body mass and an increase in body fat. Fat-soluble drugs can accumulate in body fat, leading to prolonged drug effects and increased risk of toxicity.
E. Increased rate of absorption: Aging can lead to changes in gastrointestinal function, including reduced gastric motility and decreased blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract. These changes may result in delayed drug absorption rather than an increased rate of absorption.