Nursing Clinical Skills questions Related

Review Nursing Clinical Skills questions related questions and content

The patient’s potassium level is 0 mEq/L. Besides dialysis, which of the following actually reduces plasma potassium levels and total body potassium content safely in a patient with renal dysfunction?

  • A. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate
  • B. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate with sorbitol
  • C. Regular insulin
  • D. Calcium gluconate
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate. It works by exchanging sodium ions for potassium ions in the colon, leading to potassium excretion. A is the safest option without the risk of causing hypernatremia or intestinal necrosis like B. Regular insulin (C) may cause hypoglycemia and is not as effective as A in reducing potassium levels. Calcium gluconate (D) does not directly reduce potassium levels and is used for treating hyperkalemia-related cardiac toxicity.