Final answer:
When administering IV potassium chloride for hypokalemia, mix the medication with a large volume of IV fluid and administer it slowly, not as a bolus or undiluted. The KCl solution is made by diluting a stock solution to achieve the ordered concentration, careful to avoid lethal injection effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Administering IV Potassium Chloride
When preparing and administering IV potassium chloride for a patient with hypokalemia, a healthcare provider's plan should not include administering the medication undiluted or as a bolus injection due to its high potential for causing cardiac arrhythmias. The correct course of action is to mix the medication with a large volume of IV fluid. It is typically infused over a period of time to ensure the patient's safety. The medication should be mixed to achieve the prescribed concentration. For example, if the physician orders 100 mL of 0.5% KCl, a concentrated, sterile stock solution of KCl may need to be diluted in an IV bag of sterile solution. A common dilution calculation would be: (10%) V1 = (0.5%)(100 mL), resulting in 5 mL of a 10% KCl solution being added to the IV bag.
Injection of concentrated potassium solutions directly into the bloodstream is lethal, as it disrupts cardiac muscle function by altering the electrochemical gradients necessary for heart contractions. Therefore, proper dilution and slow administration through a controlled IV system are paramount for patient safety.
Depending on hospital protocol and the patient's condition, a central venous catheter may be preferred over a peripheral IV site for administration of potassium chloride, especially if the concentration is high or if the patient requires long-term treatment.