Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 88%
Full-length
Passage / Scenario
A client is scheduled for a cardiac catheterization at 8 AM. The client's laboratory work was completed five days ago. The results were: K⁺ 3.0 mEq/L, Na⁺ 148 mEq/L, glucose 178 mg/dL. He complains of muscle weakness and cramps.Which of the following nursing actions is BEST?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Strategy: All answers are implementations. Determine the outcome of each answer choice. Is it desired? (1) Aldactone is potassium-sparing diuretic and is an oral medication, patient is NPO for procedure (2) is not feasible prior to the cardiac cath because the client is NPO (3) correct-signs and symptoms are indicative of hypokalemia; stat serum K⁺ level is needed to confirm the K⁺ level prior to going for cardiac catheterization (4) is unnecessary at this time