A nurse is reviewing the EKG strip of a client who has prolonged vomiting. Which of the following abnormalities on the client's EKG should the nurse interpret as a sign of hypokalemia?

A. Requesting an order for an antiemetic may be necessary if the client continues to experience nausea, but it is not the first action the nurse should take. Before administering medication, the nurse should assess the client's vital signs and overall condition to determine the appropriate intervention.
B. While a dietitian consult may be beneficial to address the client's nutritional needs, it is not the first action the nurse should take in response to the client's symptoms of nausea and weakness. Assessing the client's vital signs and condition should be the priority.
C. Suggesting that the client rests before eating the meal may be helpful, but it does not address the underlying cause of the client's symptoms. The nurse should first assess the client's vital signs to determine the severity of the symptoms and any potential complications.
D. Checking the client's vital signs is the first action the nurse should take in response to the client's symptoms of nausea and weakness. Vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature, can provide valuable information about the client's hemodynamic status and help identify any potential complications, such as dehydration or worsening heart failure. Based on the vital signs assessment, the nurse can then implement appropriate interventions, such as notifying the healthcare provider or providing symptomatic relief.

A. Take the medication with meals: Beclomethasone is an inhaled corticosteroid used to prevent asthma symptoms. It should be taken as prescribed by the healthcare provider, usually inhaled at specific times each day. Taking the medication with meals is not necessary, as it does not affect its efficacy or absorption.
B. Check the pulse after medication administration: Checking the pulse is not typically indicated after administering inhaled beclomethasone. Beclomethasone is a corticosteroid inhaler used for long-term control of asthma symptoms and is not associated with significant cardiovascular effects that would necessitate pulse monitoring.
C. Limit caffeine intake: Limiting caffeine intake is not specifically related to the administration of inhaled beclomethasone. However, caffeine can exacerbate some asthma symptoms in susceptible individuals, so general advice to limit caffeine intake may be beneficial for managing asthma symptoms overall. Still, it's not directly related to the administration of this medication.
D. Rinse the mouth after administration: This is the correct action. Inhaled corticosteroids like beclomethasone can cause local side effects such as oral candidiasis (thrush) or dysphonia (hoarseness) due to deposition of the medication in the mouth and throat. Rinsing the mouth with water after each dose helps minimize these side effects by reducing the amount of medication left in the mouth, thereby decreasing the risk of oral candidiasis and other local adverse effects.