Question

Priority Decision: A patient on a medical unit has a potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L. What is the priority action that the nurse should take?

a. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor.
b. Check the patient's blood pressure (BP).
c. Instruct the patient to avoid high-potassium foods.
d. Call the lab and request a redraw of the lab to verify results.

Answer 1

The priority action is to place the patient on a cardiac monitor.

Step-by-step explanation:

The priority action that the nurse should take when a patient on a medical unit has a potassium level of 6.8 mEq/L is to place the patient on a cardiac monitor (a).

Elevated potassium levels, known as hyperkalemia, can have serious cardiac implications. It can cause abnormal heart rhythms and can even lead to cardiac arrest. By placing the patient on a cardiac monitor, the nurse can closely monitor the patient's heart rhythm and intervene promptly if any abnormalities are detected.