A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride to a client who has a potassium level of 5.8 mEq/L. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Hold the medication until the client has his evening meal.
Inform the provider of the client's potassium level.
Obtain a prescription to increase the dosage of the medication.
Give the medication as prescribed.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Hold the medication until the client has his evening meal: Holding the medication for this reason is inappropriate because the issue is the elevated potassium level, not the timing with meals.
B. Inform the provider of the client's potassium level: Correct. A potassium level of 5.8 mEq/L is elevated (hyperkalemia), and the provider should be informed immediately before administering any more potassium.
C. Obtain a prescription to increase the dosage of the medication: Increasing the dosage would be dangerous given the elevated potassium level.
D. Give the medication as prescribed: Administering potassium chloride with a high potassium level is unsafe and could exacerbate the hyperkalemia.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Use the dominant hand to pinch the client's skin: The dominant hand is used to inject the medication, while the non-dominant hand is used to pinch the skin.
B. Don sterile gloves prior to the injection. Clean gloves, not sterile gloves, are appropriate for subcutaneous injections.
C. Inject the medication at a 15° angle to the client's skin: Subcutaneous injections are typically given at a 45° or 90° angle, not 15°.
D. Cleanse the injection site with a circular motion. This is the correct technique to ensure the injection site is clean.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Increased blood pressure: Hypovolemia typically causes a decrease in blood pressure, not an increase.
B. Thready pulse: A thready pulse is a common sign of hypovolemia due to decreased blood volume.
C. Dyspnea: While dyspnea can occur, it is not as specific as a thready pulse for hypovolemia.
D. Decreased heart rate: Hypovolemia usually causes an increased heart rate as the body tries to compensate for low blood volume.
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