The nurse caring for patients admitted for infectious diseases understands what information about emerging global diseases and bioterrorism?

Choice A rationale:
Administering an antipyretic would lower the client's fever, but it would not address the underlying cause of the sepsis. Antipyretics can mask important signs and symptoms of infection, making it more difficult to diagnose and treat the sepsis. It's important to identify the causative organism of sepsis to initiate appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Therefore, obtaining cultures to identify the causative organism is the priority action.
Choice B rationale:
Obtaining specified cultures is the most important action for a client with possible sepsis because it allows for the identification of the causative organism.
This information is essential for selecting the appropriate antibiotic therapy. Cultures should be obtained as soon as possible, before antibiotics are administered.
Choice C rationale:
While administering antibiotics is an important part of the treatment for sepsis, it is not the first action that the nurse should take.
Antibiotics should be administered after the causative organism has been identified.
Administering antibiotics before cultures are obtained can make it more difficult to identify the causative organism.
Choice D rationale:
Placing the client in isolation is important to prevent the spread of infection, but it is not the first action that the nurse should take.
The priority is to identify the causative organism and initiate appropriate treatment. The client can be placed in isolation after cultures have been obtained.

Choice A rationale:
Hourly neurologic checks are not the priority intervention for a client with hypokalemia. While hypokalemia can cause neuromuscular changes, such as muscle weakness and cramps, these are not typically the most immediate or life-threatening concerns.
Cardiac monitoring is crucial to detect and manage potentially fatal arrhythmias promptly.

Neurologic checks can be implemented as part of the overall assessment and monitoring plan, but they should not supersede cardiac monitoring in this situation.
Choice C rationale:
Seizure precautions are not routinely initiated for clients with hypokalemia unless there is a specific seizure history or other neurological concerns.
Hypokalemia can cause neuromuscular irritability, but it does not directly trigger seizures in most cases. The priority remains cardiac monitoring due to the significant risk of arrhythmias.
Choice D rationale:
Administering oxygen via face mask might be considered if the client exhibits respiratory distress or hypoxemia. However, it's not the immediate priority intervention for hypokalemia without accompanying respiratory compromise.
Hypokalemia primarily affects cardiac conduction, necessitating prompt cardiac monitoring.
Oxygen therapy can be administered if clinically indicated, but it does not address the underlying electrolyte imbalance.
Rationale for the correct answer, B:
Initiating cardiac monitoring is the most crucial nursing action for a client with a serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L. Here's a detailed explanation:
Hypokalemia's significant cardiac effects:
Potassium is essential for normal cardiac conduction and muscle contraction. Hypokalemia disrupts the electrical activity of the heart, potentially leading to:
Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), including potentially fatal ones like ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, such as ST segment depression, T wave flattening or inversion, and prominent U waves. Cardiac monitoring's role:
Continuously tracks the heart's electrical activity. Enables early detection of arrhythmias.
Facilitates prompt intervention to prevent life-threatening complications. Specific benefits of cardiac monitoring in hypokalemia:

Allows for early identification and treatment of arrhythmias, potentially preventing cardiac arrest. Guides electrolyte replacement therapy, ensuring appropriate potassium administration.
Assesses the effectiveness of interventions, ensuring the patient's stability.