A patient is admitted to the emergency department with a potassium level of 7 mEq/L. A nurse puts the patient on an EKG monitor and should prepare to administer which of the following medications?
a. Potassium-sparing diuretic intravenously
b. IV glucose and insulin to promote the uptake of potassium by cells
c. Hypotonic fluid to treat the impending alkalosis
d. IV magnesium salts
ANS: B
Treatment for hyperkalemia includes infusion of a calcium salt to offset the effects of hyperkalemia on the heart and infusion of glucose and insulin to promote uptake of potassium by the cells.
A potassium-sparing diuretic would increase the serum potassium level even more.
The patient would not require hypotonic fluids to reduce hyperkalemia. In fact, with subsequent hyponatremia, the potassium level might increase more.
Calcium salts, not magnesium salts, would be used to manage the patient's hyperkalemia.
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