The nurse is administering glucose and insulin to a client whose potassium level is 5.9 mEq/L. The client's wife says, "He doesn't have diabetes, so why is he getting insulin?" What is the best response by the nurse?
1. "Insulin is safer than giving laxatives such as sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate).".
2. "Insulin will help his kidneys excrete the extra potassium.".
3. "Insulin lowers his blood sugar levels and this is how the extra potassium is excreted.".
4. "Insulin will cause his extra potassium to go into his cells and lower the blood level.".
4. "Insulin will cause his extra potassium to go into his cells and lower the blood level.".
Rationale:
Serum potassium levels may be temporarily lowered by administering glucose and insulin, which cause potassium to leave the extracellular fluid and enter cells. Giving insulin to decrease serum potassium levels is not considered a safer method than giving sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate). Insulin does not promote renal excretion of potassium. Serum potassium is lowered by entering the cells; this is not controlled by serum glucose.
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