HESI RN Nursing Leadership and Management Exam 6 Related

Review HESI RN Nursing Leadership and Management Exam 6 related questions and content

A nurse caring for a group of clients reviews the electrolyte laboratory results and notes a potassium level of 5.5 mEq/L on one client's laboratory report. The nurse understands that which client is at highest risk for the development of a potassium value at this level?

  • A. The client with colitis
  • B. The client with Cushing's syndrome
  • C. The client who has been overusing laxatives
  • D. The client who has sustained a traumatic burn
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Clients who have sustained traumatic burns are at a higher risk of developing hyperkalemia due to cell lysis. When cells are damaged in a traumatic burn, potassium can leak out from the intracellular space into the bloodstream, leading to elevated serum potassium levels. Colitis, Cushing's syndrome, and overuse of laxatives are not typically associated with the same degree of cell damage or potassium shifts seen in traumatic burns, making them less likely to result in such high potassium levels.