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A nurse is administering an edema medicated with sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) to an older adult patient who has hyperkalemia. The nurse should insert the tip of the rectal tube..

User Wonay
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Final answer:

The question pertains to Medicine and the treatment of hyperkalemia, but the provided information discusses a different medical scenario, involving the preparation of an IV for hypokalemia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of the question is Medicine, specifically regarding medication administration and electrolyte balance in an older adult patient with hyperkalemia.

The patient being treated has high potassium levels (hyperkalemia) and is receiving sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) to reduce these levels.

In contrast, the provided information pertains to a scenario where an intravenous (IV) preparation for a patient with hypokalemia (low potassium levels) is required.

The correct procedure in the given scenario would not be simply to retrieve an IV bag with the desired concentration of KCl from a supply cabinet.

Instead, an aide would likely have to perform a dilution calculation to create the correct 0.5% KCl solution by combining a stock solution with a sterile solution in an empty IV bag.

This ensures the precise concentration needed for the patient's IV delivery.

When addressing the administration of sodium polystyrene sulfonate for a patient with hyperkalemia, the key considerations include kidney function, correction of dehydration, and careful management of electrolyte balances, specifically potassium levels.

It is essential that circulatory collapse and dehydration are corrected.

In emergency treatment situations, such as during open-heart surgery, a solution of KCl can be injected directly into the cardiac muscle to stop the heart, highlighting the critical nature of accurate electrolyte management.

User Ackman
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