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: Flushing with 15 mL water between medications is correct to prevent clogging and ensure delivery. Immediate feeding reconnection risks phenytoin absorption, making this incorrect, as it’s a proper action unlike the error requiring the nurse’s immediate intervention.
Choice B reason: Reinserting 50 mL of aspirated stomach contents is acceptable to maintain fluid balance. Reconnecting feeding immediately affects phenytoin efficacy, making this incorrect, as it’s a correct action compared to the student’s error needing the nurse’s urgent correction.
Choice C reason: Checking gastric aspirate pH confirms tube placement, a safety step. Immediate feeding reconnection reduces phenytoin absorption, making this incorrect, as it’s a proper action unlike the student’s mistake requiring the nurse’s immediate intervention for medication administration.
Choice D reason: Reconnecting enteral feeding immediately after phenytoin reduces its absorption, as feedings should be held for 1-2 hours. This requires immediate intervention, aligning with medication administration protocols, making it the correct action for the nurse to address in the student’s care.
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D"]
Explanation
Choice A reason: Checking the drainage bag level ensures it’s below the abdomen to promote gravity-dependent outflow. This addresses reduced outflow in peritoneal dialysis, making it a correct action the nurse would take to resolve the inflow-outflow discrepancy safely.
Choice B reason: Repositioning to the side can dislodge catheter obstructions or improve drainage in peritoneal dialysis. This is a standard intervention for low outflow, making it a correct action the nurse would perform to correct the client’s dialysis flow issue.
Choice C reason: Good body alignment prevents catheter kinking and promotes effective drainage in peritoneal dialysis. This addresses outflow issues, making it a correct action the nurse would take to ensure proper function of the dialysis system for the client.
Choice D reason: Checking for kinks in the dialysis system identifies mechanical causes of reduced outflow. This is a key troubleshooting step, making it a correct action the nurse would perform to resolve the inflow-outflow imbalance in the client’s peritoneal dialysis.
Choice E reason: Contacting the provider is premature before troubleshooting mechanical issues like kinks or positioning. Checking the drainage bag is a priority, making this incorrect, as it delays the nurse’s initial actions to correct the dialysis outflow problem independently.
Choice F reason: Increasing the flow rate doesn’t address outflow obstruction and may worsen fluid imbalance. Repositioning is more appropriate, making this incorrect, as it’s not a safe action compared to the nurse’s focus on resolving mechanical dialysis issues first.
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