Question

The nurse is preparing to care for a client with a potassium deficit. The nurse reviews the client's record and determines that the client is at risk for developing the potassium deficit because of which situation?

a. Sustained tissue damage
b. Requires nasogastric suction
c. Has a history of Addison's disease
d. Uric acid level of 9.4 mg/dL (559 mmol/L)

Answer 1

The client is at risk for developing a potassium deficit due to nasogastric suction, as it leads to the direct loss of potassium-rich stomach contents.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client is at risk for developing a potassium deficit because of nasogastric suction. Nasogastric suction can lead to a loss of stomach contents that are rich in potassium, which can in turn cause hypokalemia, an abnormally low potassium blood level. Conditions such as sustained tissue damage, history of Addison's disease, and a high uric acid level are also associated with changes in electrolyte levels, but in the context of a potassium deficit, nasogastric suction is a direct cause of potassium loss through the gastrointestinal tract.