The nurse working in the emergency department (ED) admits a patient with renal failure and a serum potassium level of 8.0 mEq/L. All these orders are received from the health care provider. Which order will the nurse implement first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Because cardiac dysrhythmias are a common and potentially fatal complication of hyperkalemia, the first action should be to initiate cardiac monitoring. The other orders are also appropriate and should be accomplished as quickly as possible.

The Nurse Working in the Emergency Department (ED) Admits a Patient