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 B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Tongue furrows indicate dehydration but don’t assess ambulation safety, which requires hemodynamic stability. Orthostatic blood pressure changes are key, making this incorrect, as it’s less relevant than the nurse’s priority to evaluate fall risk in a dehydrated client.
Choice B reason: Comparing blood pressure in lying, sitting, and standing positions detects orthostatic hypotension, a fall risk in dehydrated older clients. This aligns with mobility safety assessment, making it the correct action to determine if the client is safe for independent ambulation.
Choice C reason: Serum potassium above 3.5 mEq/L ensures cardiac stability but doesn’t directly assess ambulation safety. Orthostatic changes are more relevant, making this incorrect, as it’s not the nurse’s primary focus for evaluating mobility in a dehydrated client.
Choice D reason: Radial and apical pulse consistency checks pacemaker function, not ambulation safety in dehydration. Blood pressure changes are critical, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s assessment of safe independent ambulation in the dehydrated older client.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Initiating antibiotics is critical but follows cultures to identify the causative organism. Obtaining cultures first ensures accurate treatment, making this incorrect, as it risks altering culture results if antibiotics are given before sampling in the pneumonia client.
Choice B reason: Obtaining blood and sputum cultures first identifies the pneumonia-causing organism, guiding effective antibiotic therapy. This aligns with infection management protocols, making it the correct initial order to implement for the client admitted with pneumonia to ensure accurate treatment.
Choice C reason: Airborne precautions are needed for specific pneumonias (e.g., tuberculosis), but most require droplet precautions. Cultures guide treatment, making this incorrect, as it’s less urgent than obtaining cultures first to confirm the pathogen in the client with pneumonia.
Choice D reason: An indwelling catheter is unnecessary for pneumonia unless urinary retention is present. Obtaining cultures is the priority, making this incorrect, as it’s irrelevant to the immediate management of the client’s infection compared to identifying the causative organism.
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