The nurse prepares to administer an IV infusion of potassium chloride through a peripheral vein to a client with hypokalemia. The health care provider's prescription states: IV potassium chloride 10 mEq (10 mmol)/100 mL 5% dextrose in water now, infuse over 30 minutes. What is the nurse's priority action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The recommended rates for an intermittent IV infusion of potassium chloride (KCl) are no greater than 10 mEq (10 mmol) over 1 hour when infused through a peripheral line and no greater than 40 mEq/hr (40 mmol/hr) when infused through a central line (follow facility guidelines and policy). If the nurse were to administer the medication as prescribed, the rate would exceed the recommended rate of 10 mEq/hr (10 mmol/hr) (ie, 10 mEq [10 mmol] over 30 minutes = 20 mEq/hr [20 mmol/hr]). A too rapid infusion can lead to pain and irritation of the vein and postinfusion phlebitis. Contacting the health care provider to verify this prescription is the priority action. (Option A) The nurse would assess the IV site for swelling, tenderness, and redness just before initiating the KCl infusion and every 30 minutes during administration. However, this is not the priority action. (Option B) The nurse would check the most current serum potassium level just before administering the KCl and may obtain another level following the infusion, if prescribed. This is not the priority action. (Option D) An electronic IV pump should always be used to administer KCl. To administer the infusion at the recommended rate of 10 mEq/hr (10 mmol/hr), the nurse would set the pump at 100 mL/hr, but this is not the priority action. Educational objective: The maximum rate for infusion of IV potassium chloride through a peripheral vein is 10 mEq/hr, and the maximum rate through a central vein is 40 mEq/hr.

The Nurse Prepares to Administer an IV Infusion of Potassium