Question

Increase dietary potassium while taking the medication (The nurse should reinforce with the client to increase dietary intake of potassium because furosemide causes potassium to be excreted in the urine. Increasing dietary potassium will help prevent hypokalemia.)

a) to decrease potassium levels
b) for optimal fluid balance
c) to prevent hypokalemia
d) to reduce gastrointestinal upset

Answer 1

The nurse should reinforce with the client to increase dietary intake of potassium because furosemide causes potassium to be excreted in the urine. Increasing dietary potassium helps prevent hypokalemia and has other health benefits such as maintaining fluid balance and reducing the risk of diabetes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should reinforce with the client to increase dietary intake of potassium because furosemide causes potassium to be excreted in the urine. Increasing dietary potassium will help prevent hypokalemia.

There are several reasons why increasing dietary potassium is important. Potassium is important for optimal fluid balance in the body. It also plays a role in maintaining normal potassium concentration gradients between the intracellular fluid (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF). Additionally, potassium intake has been negatively associated with conditions such as hypertension and metabolic syndrome, and lower serum potassium levels have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes.

In summary, increasing dietary intake of potassium is important to prevent hypokalemia while taking furosemide. It helps maintain fluid balance, prevents certain health conditions, and reduces the risk of diabetes.