Question

The nurse is administering sodium polystyrene sulfonate to a client in acute kidney injury (AKI).Which lab finding indicates that the medication has been effective

a) Serum glucose level of 120 mg/dL ( 6.7 mmol/L)
b) Serum potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L (3.8 mmol/L)
c) serum ammonia level of 30 micrograms/dL (21 micromol/L)
d) Hemoglobin level of 13.5 grams/dL (135 g/L)

Answer 1

The effectiveness of sodium polystyrene sulfonate for a patient with acute kidney injury is indicated by a serum potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L, which is within the normal range. This shows that the medicine has successfully reduced high potassium levels, which is its main purpose.

Step-by-step explanation:

The medication sodium polystyrene sulfonate is used in the setting of acute kidney injury (AKI) to treat hyperkalemia, which is a common complication of AKI. This medication works by binding to potassium in the intestine so it can be excreted from the body. Since the goal of the medication is to reduce elevated serum potassium levels, the effectiveness of this treatment is measured by a decrease in serum potassium to within the normal range.

The normal range for serum potassium is typically considered to be between 3.5 and 5.0 mEq/L (milliequivalents per liter). Therefore, the lab finding that indicates the medication has been effective is serum potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L (b), which is within this normal range. The other options are not direct indicators of the effectiveness of sodium polystyrene sulfonate for this condition. The serum glucose level (a), serum ammonia level (c), and hemoglobin level (d) are not primarily affected by this medication and are unrelated to its intended effect on serum potassium levels.