Ordered: Potassium chloride (K-Dur) 60 mEq

Available: Potassium chloride (K-Dur) 20 mEq/15 mL

Administer: _____mL

A. Develop a plan of care for the client:

Developing a plan of care is essential, but it should be informed by the client's current condition, diagnosis, and code status. Documenting the code status is a foundational step.

B. Provide a schedule of visiting hours to the client’s family:

While facilitating family involvement is important, it is not the top priority during the initial admission assessment. Ensuring the client's safety and understanding their code status takes precedence.

C. Teach the client about his diagnosis:

Patient education is important, but in a critical situation, the priority is to assess and document key information, including the code status. Education can follow once the immediate priorities are addressed.

D. Document the client’s code status

When conducting the initial admission assessment for a critical client, the priority action is to document the client's code status. Code status refers to the set of directives given by the client or their legal representative regarding the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other life-sustaining measures in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest.

Understanding and documenting the client's code status is crucial for informing the healthcare team about the client's preferences for resuscitation efforts. This information guides the team in providing care that aligns with the client's wishes and values.

A. Client reports feeling dizzy when sitting up from a supine position.

Dizziness or lightheadedness when moving from a lying down to a sitting or standing position can be indicative of orthostatic hypotension.

B. Client reports feeling palpitations when rising from a supine to a standing position.

Palpitations (feeling of rapid or irregular heartbeat) can be associated with orthostatic changes and may indicate the heart's compensatory response to low blood pressure.

C. Erythema is present on the bilateral lower extremities.

Erythema (redness of the skin) is not typically associated with orthostatic hypotension. This symptom is more likely related to skin conditions or other causes.

D. The client has a temperature of 100.4 F.

Fever (elevated body temperature) is not a direct symptom of orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is primarily related to changes in blood pressure upon assuming an upright position.

E. The client states, “I feel lightheaded when sitting up.”

Lightheadedness upon sitting up or standing is a common symptom of orthostatic hypotension.