The nurse would place highest priority on monitoring the results of which of the following serum electrolytes during initial treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis with regular intravenous insulin?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During initial treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis with regular intravenous insulin, the nurse should prioritize monitoring the serum potassium levels. Insulin therapy can cause potassium to shift from the extracellular fluid to the intracellular fluid, which can result in hypokalemia. Hypokalemia can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, the nurse should monitor potassium levels closely and administer potassium supplementation as needed. While monitoring other electrolytes is important, they are not the highest priority during initial treatment.

The Nurse Would Place Highest Priority on Monitoring the Results