The nurse works on the cardiac unit of a hospital. The health care provider has ordered 20 mEq of KCl per L to be added to the fluids that the patient is receiving. The patient currently has a bag of D5W IV fluid infusing

Question

Which action is most appropriate? a. Administer 20 mEq KCl diluted in 5 mL of fluid by IV push in 5 minutes.
b. Estimate the amount of fluid in the IV bag and add KCl to equal 20 mEq/L.
c. Give the KCl undiluted by IV push in 5 minutes for the most rapid action.
d. Check the patient's potassium level before hanging the new IV solution.

Answer 1

D
Remember that failure to verify that a patient has adequate renal function and urine output before administering an IV solution containing potassium could cause hyperkalemia. Under no circumstances should KCl be given in an IV push. A direct IV infusion of KCl may be fatal. Intravenous administration of KCl requires dilution in solution and infusion slowly over a period of time. In most hospitals, nurses do not add KCl to IV bags. Usually a pharmacist prepares the solution.