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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?
Suggested Answer: B
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(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.
26 comments · newest first
EV
Eveline
10 months ago
Hmm, I thought urine output was key in renal failure cases. Surprised it's not top of the list!
ER
Ernestine
10 months ago
I think urine output is important too, but ECG feels more urgent.
TI
Tiera
10 months ago
Agreed, ECG should be the priority here. Heart health first!
PH
Phung
10 months ago
Wait, why would you need past potassium levels? Isn’t the current one enough?
EM
Emmanuel
11 months ago
Definitely need to check the ECG! High potassium can mess with the heart.
JO
Johana
11 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.
GE
German
11 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.
KI
Kirk
11 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?
SH
Shaniqua
12 months ago
I think we should definitely check the ECG because high potassium can cause serious heart issues, right?
HI
Hildred
12 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.
KE
Kenia
12 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.
JI
Jina
1 year 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.
EL
Elliott
1 year 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.
QU
Queenie
1 year ago
I'm going with B. Can't ignore those electrocardiographic changes - they might be the difference between life and, well, not life.
LA
Laila
1 year ago
Hey, is there a 'Call the potassium police' option? Gotta love these renal failure questions, they're the 'banana peels' of the nursing exam.
XU
Xuan
1 year ago
I'm tempted to say A, just to see if the patient is already experiencing neurological symptoms. But B is probably the safest bet.
ES
Essie
1 year ago
I agree, we need to make sure there are no cardiac complications.
CH
Chi
1 year ago
I think B is the safest bet. We need to evaluate an electrocardiogram.
KA
Karon
1 year ago
D seems like the obvious choice. We need to see the trend in potassium levels to determine if it's a new or ongoing issue.
LA
Lashaun
1 year ago
I'd go with C. Knowing the recent urine output will give us a clue about how the kidneys are handling the potassium.
OC
Octavio
1 year ago
Definitely B. An ECG is crucial to assess the cardiac effects of the elevated potassium. Can't risk missing that.
KR
Kristeen
1 year ago
B) Evaluation of an electrocardiogram
YE
Yesenia
1 year ago
A) Evaluation of his level of consciousness
ME
Melinda
1 year ago
Measuring his urine output for the past 8 hours is important too.
CA
Carlene
1 year ago
I think we should also evaluate an electrocardiogram.
SA
Sabine
1 year ago
We need to check his level of consciousness.