Question

The client admitted with hypokalemia has an order for potassium to be administered orally. Prior to administering the potassium, the nurse should: A. Check the client's creatinine level B. Ask the doctor to order an ECG C. Insert a nasogastric tube D. Acquire milk to give the oral potassium

Short answer

Answer: D. Acquire milk to give the oral potassium.

Step-by-step solution

A. Check the client's creatinine level

Creatinine level indicates kidney function, which is relevant because the kidneys are responsible for regulating potassium levels in the body. A high creatinine level may indicate impaired kidney function, which can be dangerous when administering potassium. However, while checking the client's creatinine level is important, it's not the only factor to consider before administering oral potassium.

B. Ask the doctor to order an ECG

An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the heart's electrical activity. While hypokalemia can cause ECG changes and monitoring the heart's electrical activity is important in a patient with electrolyte imbalances, asking the doctor to order an ECG might not be the most immediate action to be taken before administering oral potassium.

C. Insert a nasogastric tube

A nasogastric tube is used to deliver medication and nutrition directly to the stomach via the nasal cavity. There is no indication that the patient in this scenario has difficulty swallowing or any other condition that would make oral administration unsafe or impossible. Therefore, inserting a nasogastric tube is not the most appropriate action to take before administering oral potassium.

D. Acquire milk to give the oral potassium

Potassium supplements can cause gastrointestinal irritation, and giving oral potassium with milk can help to minimize this irritation. Milk, being a dairy product, also contains some potassium that could help to supplement the patient's potassium intake. Considering the possible gastrointestinal discomfort and the need to increase the patient's potassium intake, acquiring milk to give with the oral potassium is the most appropriate immediate action for the nurse to take before administering the supplement. Based on the analysis, the correct answer is: D. Acquire milk to give the oral potassium.