Final answer:
The most important intervention for a nurse to implement when a client has a serum potassium level of 2.5 mEq/L is to administer potassium cautiously to avoid hyperkalemia. The IV solution of KCl is prepared by diluting a stock solution, not by directly using a pre-prepared IV bag. Proper management of potassium levels is critical for patient safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing a client with a serum potassium level of 2.5 mEq/L (25 mmol/L), which is indicative of hypokalemia, the most important intervention a nurse should implement is administering potassium.
However, caution is essential because improper administration can lead to fatal consequences like hyperkalemia.
In a clinical setting, when a physician orders a 100 mL of 0.5% KCl intravenous (IV) solution for a patient, the clinical staff does not simply take out an IV bag containing this concentration.
Instead, they prepare it by using a more concentrated stock solution of KCl. This involves using a syringe to draw up some stock solution and inject it into an IV bag of sterile solution to achieve the correct dilution.
Blood potassium levels are tightly regulated by the body, and deviation from the normal range can be harmful.
The normal range for serum potassium is typically 3.5-5.0 mEq/L, and levels below this range may require urgent medical attention and correction.
The administration of IV potassium is a standard treatment for significant hypokalemia and must be performed with care to avoid the risk of inducing high potassium levels, or hyperkalemia, which could impair the function of muscles, the nervous system, and the heart.