Final answer:
The priority nursing intervention for a patient with hypokalemia and a serum potassium of 2.8 mEq/L during intravenous potassium replacement therapy is to ensure that the infusion rate does not exceed 20 mEq/hr. Administering potassium too rapidly can be dangerous, and preparing the correct concentration of potassium involves performing a dilution calculation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When caring for a patient with a serum potassium of 2.8 mEq/L, the priority nursing intervention when administering intravenous replacement therapy is to maintain the infusion rate at no greater than 20 mEq/hr. This is to avoid the potential dangers of rapid potassium administration, such as cardiac arrhythmias or cardiac arrest. The serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia, which is a lower-than-normal level of potassium in the bloodstream, typically requiring careful correction to prevent complications. Potassium is a critical electrolyte and plays a key role in maintaining cellular function, nerve impulses, and muscle contraction, including the heart muscle.
In a clinical setting, an aide would not simply grab a pre-mixed bag of 0.5% KCl solution from the supply cabinet. Instead, they would need to make the solution by diluting a more concentrated stock solution of KCl to the desired concentration by performing a dilution calculation. This process ensures precise control over the electrolyte concentration being administered to the patient. Additionally, educating the patient and family about the signs and symptoms of hypokalemia is important but is not the immediate priority during acute intravenous therapy.