NCLEX-RN Exam - Topic 2 Question 6 Discussion

Actual exam question for NCLEX's NCLEX-RN exam

Question #: 6
Topic #: 2

A client has renal failure. Today's lab values indicate he has an elevated serum potassium. What additional priority information does the nurse need to obtain?

AEvaluation of his level of consciousness

BEvaluation of an electrocardiogram

CMeasurement of his urine output for the past 8 hours

DSerum potassium lab values for the last several days

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: B

(A) The level of consciousness is not affected by elevated potassium levels. (B) An electrocardiogram (EKG) can tell the nurse whether this client is experiencing any cardiac dysfunction or arrhythmias related to the elevated potassium level. (C) Measurement of the urine output is not a priority nursing action at this time. (D) The client's serum potassium values for the past several days may provide information about his renal function, but they are not a priority at this time.

by Dominque at Jun 11, 2025, 01:42 PM

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Eveline

2 months ago

Hmm, I thought urine output was key in renal failure cases. Surprised it's not top of the list!

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Ernestine

2 months ago

I think urine output is important too, but ECG feels more urgent.

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Tiera

3 months ago

Agreed, ECG should be the priority here. Heart health first!

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Phung

3 months ago

Wait, why would you need past potassium levels? Isn’t the current one enough?

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Emmanuel

3 months ago

Definitely need to check the ECG! High potassium can mess with the heart.

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Johana

3 months ago

Evaluating the level of consciousness seems important, but I wonder if it’s the top priority compared to the ECG. I guess I need to think about the risks of hyperkalemia.

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German

4 months ago

I recall a practice question where we had to monitor potassium levels closely. I feel like knowing the trend of the potassium values over the last few days could be crucial too.

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Kirk

4 months ago

I'm not sure if we need the urine output right now. I remember something about it being important, but isn't the ECG more urgent?

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Shaniqua

4 months ago

I think we should definitely check the ECG because high potassium can cause serious heart issues, right?

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Hildred

4 months ago

I've got this! The priority is definitely to evaluate the patient's cardiac status with an ECG. Elevated potassium can be life-threatening, so I need to act quickly to identify any dangerous arrhythmias or other complications.

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Kenia

4 months ago

Okay, I think the key here is to look at the trend in the patient's potassium levels over time. That will give me a better sense of how urgent the situation is and whether there are any underlying causes I need to address.

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Jina

5 months ago

Hmm, I'm a bit unsure here. Is the urine output the most important thing to check? I feel like I need more information about the patient's overall condition and medical history to really determine the best next steps.

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Elliott

5 months ago

This seems like a straightforward question about managing a patient with elevated potassium. I'd focus on getting a full picture of the patient's condition by evaluating their level of consciousness and doing an ECG to check for any cardiac changes.

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