A nurse is caring for a young patient on a ventilator with no brain activity.

The physician discusses options with the family, one of which is removing life support and allowing the patient to die.

The nurse recognizes a decisional conflict related to religious beliefs and treatment options.

The nurse utilizes the HOPE Tool for spiritual assessment.

Which question is NOT part of the HOPE Tool?

This is because heat loss by conduction occurs when two objects with different temperatures come into direct contact with each other. The baby’s skin would lose heat to the cold scale by conduction if there was no warm blanket between them.

Choice A is wrong because closing doors and windows to prevent draft (current of air with motion) would prevent heat loss by convection, not conduction. Convection is the transfer of heat from a body to moving molecules such as air or liquid.

Choice B is wrong because keeping a hat on the baby’s head would prevent heat loss by radiation, not conduction. Radiation is the transfer of heat from a body to the surroundings by electromagnetic waves.

Choice C is wrong because thoroughly drying infant after a bath would prevent heat loss by evaporation, not conduction. Evaporation is the process of liquid changing into gas and carrying away heat from the body surface.

This is because hypokalemia (low potassium level in the blood) can cause abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) that can be life-threatening and require urgent medical attention. A cardiac monitor can help detect and treat any arrhythmia that may occur.

Choice B is wrong because administering a laxative can worsen hypokalemia by causing more potassium loss through the digestive tract. Laxative use is one of the possible causes of hypokalemia.

Choice C is wrong because placing the client on seizure precautions is not a priority intervention for hypokalemia. Seizures are not a common symptom of hypokalemia, although muscle weakness and cramps may occur.

Choice D is wrong because restricting high potassium foods is not a priority intervention for hypokalemia. In fact, increasing potassium intake through foods or supplements may be helpful in less serious cases of hypokalemia. However, this should be done according to the doctor’s recommendation and with careful monitoring of blood potassium levels.

Normal blood potassium levels for an adult range from 3.6 to 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). A very low potassium level (less than 2.5 mmol/L) can be life threatening.