Case Study, Chapter 13, Fluid and Electrolytes: Balance and Disturbance 1. Mrs.
ID: 278187 • Letter: C
Question
Case Study, Chapter 13, Fluid and Electrolytes: Balance and Disturbance 1. Mrs. Dean is 75-year-old woman admitted to the hospital for a small bowel obstruction. Her medical history includes hypertension. Mrs. Dean is NPO. She has a nasogastric (NG) tube to low continuous suction. She has an IV of 0.9% NS at 83 mL/hr. Current medications include furosemide 20 mg daily and hydromorphone 0.2 mg every 4 hours, as needed for pain. The morning electrolytes reveal serunm potassium of 3.2 mEq/L. (Learning Objective 4) a. What are possible causes of a low potassium level? b. What action should the nurse take in relation to the serum potassium level? c. What clinical manifestations might the nurse assess in Mrs. Dean?Explanation / Answer
a.Possible causes of low potassium level are:increased urination due to certain medicines like antibiotis,diuretics or may be diarreha,vomiting or using too much laxatives,malnutrition,alcoholism,
b.if certain drugs causing it avoid that medication,potassium can be given by pill or liquid form because it is minor decrease in potassium level.and follow up should be taken
c.as there is low potassium level in patient there may be following symptoms occur over the period of time like nausea,vomiting,abdominal cramping,constipation,palpitation,tingling or numbness.but here potassium level is not that low so there are very less chances of development of symptoms