A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride to a client who has a potassium level of 5.8 mEq/L. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Hold the medication until the client has his evening meal.
Inform the provider of the client's potassium level.
Obtain a prescription to increase the dosage of the medication.
Give the medication as prescribed.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Hold the medication until the client has his evening meal: Holding the medication for this reason is inappropriate because the issue is the elevated potassium level, not the timing with meals.
B. Inform the provider of the client's potassium level: Correct. A potassium level of 5.8 mEq/L is elevated (hyperkalemia), and the provider should be informed immediately before administering any more potassium.
C. Obtain a prescription to increase the dosage of the medication: Increasing the dosage would be dangerous given the elevated potassium level.
D. Give the medication as prescribed: Administering potassium chloride with a high potassium level is unsafe and could exacerbate the hyperkalemia.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Massage the injection site after administration of the medication. Massaging the site after heparin injection can cause bruising and should be avoided.
B. Inject the medication into the abdomen above the level of the iliac crest: This is the recommended site for subcutaneous heparin injections.
C. Use a 1-inch needle to inject the medication. A shorter needle (5/8 inch) is typically used for subcutaneous injections, not a 1-inch needle.
D. Use a 22-gauge needle to inject the medication: A smaller gauge needle (25 to 27 gauge) is typically used for subcutaneous injections, not 22-gauge.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Lipids: A guaiac test does not detect lipids. It is specifically designed to detect occult (hidden) blood.
B. Bacteria: The guaiac test does not detect bacteria; stool cultures are used for this purpose.
C. Blood: The guaiac test is used to detect the presence of occult blood in the stool, which can indicate gastrointestinal bleeding.
D. Bile: The guaiac test does not detect bile; other tests and observations are used for bile in stool.
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