A 27-yr-old patient admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)has a serum glucose level of 732 mg/dL and serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L. Which action prescribed by the health care provider should the nurse take first?

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Hypokalemia can lead to potentially fatal dysrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation,which would be detected with electrocardiogram (ECG)monitoring. Because potassium must be infused over at least 1 hour,the nurse should initiate cardiac monitoring before infusion of potassium. Insulin should not be administered without cardiac monitoring because insulin infusion will further decrease potassium levels. Discussion of home insulin and possible causes can wait until the patient is stabilized.

A 27-Yr-Old Patient Admitted with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)has a Serum