A nurse is reviewing a client’s laboratory values and discovers the client has a serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the following interventions should the nurse anticipate?
A.
Administering a potassium-sparing diuretic.
B.
Administering sodium polystyrene sulfonate.
C.
Initiating an IV potassium infusion.
D.
Encouraging the client to eat bananas.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B. Administering sodium polystyrene sulfonate.
A serum potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L is elevated, a condition known as hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia can be dangerous because it can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and other complications. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) is a medication used specifically to treat hyperkalemia. It works by exchanging potassium ions for sodium ions in the gastrointestinal tract, thus helping to reduce the level of potassium in the blood.
Here’s why the other options are not appropriate for this scenario:
A. Administering a potassium-sparing diuretic: Potassium-sparing diuretics, such as spironolactone, are used to prevent potassium loss in patients with conditions like heart failure or hypertension. However, these diuretics would further increase serum potassium levels, which is contraindicated in the case of hyperkalemia.
C. Initiating an IV potassium infusion: This would exacerbate the problem as it would further increase serum potassium levels. IV potassium is used to treat hypokalemia (low potassium levels), not hyperkalemia.
D. Encouraging the client to eat bananas: Bananas are high in potassium, so recommending them would worsen the hyperkalemia. Dietary potassium reduction is usually advised in cases of high potassium levels.
In addition to sodium polystyrene sulfonate, other treatments for hyperkalemia might include calcium gluconate or calcium chloride to stabilize the heart, insulin with glucose to drive potassium into cells, or even dialysis in severe cases. The choice of treatment will depend on the severity of the hyperkalemia and the overall clinical picture of the patient.