Which actions are considered best practices for the nurse to use during the administration of parenteral potassium to a client with a serum potassium level of 1.9 mEq/L (mmol/L)? (Select all that apply)
Ensuring that the concentration is no greater than 1 mEq/10mL (mmol/10 mL) of solution.
Checking IV access for blood return after the infusion.
Pushing the drug as a bolus slowly over 5 minutes.
Initiating the IV in a hand vein for rapid access.
Keeping the client NPO during drug treatment.
Using an IV controller to deliver the drug.
Correct Answer : B,F
Choice A reason: Potassium concentration should be 10-20 mEq/100mL, not 1 mEq/10mL, to avoid irritation. Using an IV controller is correct, making this incorrect, as it’s an unsafe dilution compared to the nurse’s best practices for safe parenteral potassium administration.
Choice B reason: Checking IV access for blood return post-infusion ensures the potassium was delivered correctly, preventing extravasation. This aligns with IV therapy safety, making it a correct best practice the nurse should follow when administering parenteral potassium to the client.
Choice C reason: Pushing potassium as a bolus is dangerous, risking cardiac arrhythmias; it must be infused slowly. IV controller use is correct, making this incorrect, as it’s unsafe compared to the nurse’s best practices for administering potassium to a hypokalemic client.
Choice D reason: Hand veins are unsuitable for potassium, which is irritating and requires larger veins. Checking blood return is correct, making this incorrect, as it risks complications compared to the nurse’s best practices for safe potassium administration in the client.
Choice E reason: Keeping the client NPO is unnecessary for potassium administration, which addresses hypokalemia, not digestion. IV controller use is correct, making this incorrect, as it’s irrelevant to the nurse’s best practices for delivering parenteral potassium safely to the client.
Choice F reason: Using an IV controller ensures a safe, steady infusion rate for potassium, preventing cardiac complications. This aligns with medication safety protocols, making it a correct best practice the nurse should employ when administering parenteral potassium to the hypokalemic client.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Hyperparathyroidism causes hypercalcemia, not hypocalcemia, by increasing calcium levels. Malnutrition in alcoholism depletes calcium, making this incorrect, as it’s the opposite condition compared to the nurse’s recognition of hypocalcemia risk in the client.
Choice B reason: NSAIDs don’t significantly affect calcium levels, unlike malnutrition, which depletes calcium stores. Alcoholism increases hypocalcemia risk, making this incorrect, as it’s not a primary risk factor compared to the nurse’s evaluation of the malnourished client.
Choice C reason: Tetracycline may bind calcium but is less likely to cause hypocalcemia than chronic malnutrition. Alcoholism is a stronger risk, making this incorrect, as it’s a minor factor compared to the nurse’s recognition of hypocalcemia risk in the elderly client.
Choice D reason: A 70-year-old with alcoholism and malnutrition has the greatest hypocalcemia risk due to poor dietary calcium and vitamin D absorption. This aligns with nutritional risk factors, making it the correct client the nurse would recognize as most at risk for hypocalcemia.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Starting IV fluids is the first action to correct hypotension (72/48) and tachycardia (152) in burn shock, restoring perfusion. This aligns with burn resuscitation protocols, making it the correct action to address the client’s critical hypovolemia and absent pedal pulses immediately.
Choice B reason: Albumin is used later in burn management, not first, as crystalloids like saline restore volume. IV fluids address hypovolemia, making this incorrect, as it’s premature compared to the nurse’s priority of initiating fluid resuscitation in the burn-injured client.
Choice C reason: Checking pulses with Doppler assesses perfusion but delays fluid resuscitation needed for hypotension and shock. IV fluids are urgent, making this incorrect, as it’s secondary to the nurse’s first action of correcting hypovolemia in the burn client’s emergency care.
Choice D reason: Calculating the rule of nines guides fluid volume but is secondary to starting IV fluids for hypotension. Immediate resuscitation is critical, making this incorrect, as it delays the nurse’s priority of addressing the client’s shock state in the burn emergency.
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