Which parameters are to be considered in Physical Assessment for Fluid and Electrolyte status? Select all that apply

a) "Have you been having diarrhea?" This is a risk factor or cause of hypokalemia but not a symptom of it. Good to ask, but not the most direct sign.

b) "Have you been experiencing difficulty breathing?" Severe hypokalemia can lead to respiratory muscle weakness, but it is not a common early symptom.

c) "Have you been experiencing chest pain?" Chest pain is not a common symptom of hypokalemia. It could signal cardiac issues, but not specific to low potassium.

d) "Have you been experiencing muscle weakness or leg cramps?" Classic symptoms of hypokalemia due to potassium’s role in muscle contraction and nerve conduction.

a) Mixing the specimen with developer prior to sending to the lab: The nurse is not responsible for mixing stool specimens with developer unless specified by a particular test protocol. The nurse typically sends the specimen as is.

b) Asking the patient to call the nursing station when the stool specimen has been collected: While the nurse may inform the patient of the need to call once the specimen is collected, the nurse is ultimately responsible for managing the collection process, not just the patient’s communication.

c) Leaving this responsibility for the oncoming nurse: The nurse is responsible for collecting and handling specimens according to the facility's procedures. The oncoming nurse would take over once the current nurse's shift ends, but the specimen collection should be completed during the current shift.

d) Obtaining the specimen according to facility procedure: The nurse is responsible for obtaining stool specimens following the specific procedures set by the facility to ensure proper collection and handling for accurate results.