Question

The nurse is preparing to administer oral potassium chloride to an elderly client. Which action should the nurse take before administering the medication?

Perform a fingerstick for morning glucose
Assess for signs of hypocalcemia
Withhold food for thirty minutes
Check the creatinine level

Answer 1

The nurse should check the creatinine level before administering oral potassium chloride to ensure the patient's kidneys can safely excrete the potassium and avoid the risks of hyperkalemia.

Step-by-step explanation:

Before administering oral potassium chloride to an elderly client, a nurse should check the creatinine level. The creatinine level is an important measure of kidney function, which is crucial because the kidneys are responsible for excreting potassium. If there is a kidney dysfunction, administering potassium could lead to hyperkalemia, a dangerous elevation in potassium levels that can impair muscle, nerve, and heart function. It is less relevant to perform a fingerstick for morning glucose or to assess for hypocalcemia in this context, and withholding food is not typically necessary before potassium administration. Additionally, in hospital scenarios where a specific concentration of medication is needed, as in the case of IV delivery of KCl, an aide may need to perform a dilution calculation rather than finding a pre-prepared IV bag with the exact concentration.