Question

A nurse is assessing a client who has a potassium level of 2.6 mg/dL and is receiving potassium chloride by continuous IV infusion. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an indication that the potassium infusion has brought the client's potassium level back to the expected reference range?

A: The client's ECG shows inverted T waves.
B: The client's bowel sounds become hyperactive.
C: The client's hand grasp becomes stronger.
D: The client's standing systolic BP is within 30 mm Hg of her sitting systolic BP.

Answer 1

A stronger hand grasp indicates that the potassium infusion has brought the client's potassium level back to the expected range.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should identify that a client's hand grasp becoming stronger as an indication that the potassium infusion has brought the client's potassium level back to the expected reference range. Potassium is an important electrolyte that plays a role in muscle function, including muscle contraction. With a low potassium level, the client may experience weakness and reduced muscle strength. Therefore, an improvement in the client's hand grasp indicates that the potassium infusion has effectively increased the potassium level back to the expected range.