What interventions should the nurse implement for a patient with hypokalemia?

Use this nursing diagnosis guide to help you create nursing interventions and care plan for patients with electrolyte imbalance risk.

Electrolytes regulate nerve and muscle function, hydrate the body, balance blood acidity and pressure, and further rebuild damaged tissue. Sodium, calcium, potassium, chloride, phosphate, and magnesium are all electrolytes. When these substances become imbalanced, it can lead to either muscle weakness or excessive contraction.

Electrolyte imbalance can occur due to several factors. Various disorders and their corresponding treatments may put the patient at risk for imbalances in serum electrolyte concentrations. Patients experiencing congestive heart failure frequently end up as rebound hospitalizations due to irregular sodium and potassium levels. Diabetes and hypertension may eventually place a patient in a calcium or magnesium imbalance. Electrolyte losses may occur from draining wounds and fistulas, particularly gastrointestinal fistulas. Irregularities in sodium and chloride concentrations happen frequently in situations associated with fluid imbalances, primarily gastrointestinal fluid losses such as vomiting, diarrhea, or suctioning.

Changes in the secretion of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone can contribute to sodium imbalances. Patients receiving diuretics may be at risk for potassium imbalances. Thyroid and parathyroid problems place the patient at risk for calcium imbalances. Magnesium imbalances often occur in the same situations as calcium and potassium imbalances.

Electrolytes are vital for the normal functioning of the human body. A proper understanding of these imbalances is essential for current management and future prevention. This care plan and nurse study guide focus on sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium imbalances.

ADVERTISEMENTS

 

Nursing Assessment for Risk for Electrolyte Imbalance

The following are the subjective and objective data you need to assess for a patient with a nursing diagnosis of Risk for Electrolyte Imbalance:

AssessmentRationaleMonitor serum electrolyte levels.The levels of electrolytes in the body can become too low or too high. Early detection of abnormality in serum electrolyte levels allows prompt initiation of measures to prevent further imbalances.
  • Sodium
136 to 145 mEq/L
  • Potassium
3.5 to 5.1 mEq/L
  • Chloride
98 to 107 mEq/L
  • Total calcium
9 to 10.5 mg/dL
  • Ionized calcium
4.6 to 5.1 mg/dL
  • Magnesium
1.8 to 3 mg/dL
  • Phosphate
0.8 to 1.5 mEq/LIdentify any clinical conditions or situations that may be a factor for an imbalance in serum electrolytes.Assessing a patient for electrolyte imbalance can give health care providers an insight into the homeostasis of the body and can serve as a marker for the presence of other illnesses. Prevention of electrolyte irregularities begins with the identification of situations that put the patient at risk for imbalance.
  • Dietary consumption
The patient’s fluid and food intake have a direct impact on the risk of electrolyte imbalance. A serum sodium level below 135 mEq/L is considered hyponatremia. This state can be due to low levels of sodium or to excess water in connection to the amount of sodium, referred to as dilutional hyponatremia.
  • Tissue trauma and wound drainage
For bowel to skin fistulas, the body fluid levels and electrolytes including levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the blood will need to be monitored regularly and corrected to replace any losses. Extensive tissue injury may occur with trauma or burns may cause hyperkalemia, initially. Eventually, the patient may be at risk for hypokalemia and hyponatremia.
  • Renal dysfunction
In this case, electrolyte imbalance can be caused by reduced renal excretion, excessive intake or leakage of potassium from the intracellular space. In addition to acute and chronic renal failure, hypoaldosteronism, and massive tissue breakdown as in rhabdomyolysis are common conditions influencing hyperkalemia.
  • Drug therapy
Loop and thiazide diuretics increase sodium delivery to the distal segment of the distal tubule, this increases potassium loss and potentially causing hypokalemia because the increase in distal tubular sodium concentration stimulates the aldosterone-sensitive sodium pump to increase sodium reabsorption in exchange for potassium and hydrogen ion, which are lost to the urine. Thiazide diuretics also increase calcium reabsorption at the distal tubule causing hypercalcemia. Potassium-sparing diuretics may cause hyperkalemia. Hypokalemia may also be associated with prolonged use of corticosteroids.
  • Gastrointestinal fluid losses
Gastrointestinal losses from diarrhea, vomiting, or nasogastric suctioning also are typical causes of hypokalemia. Vomiting leads to hypokalemia via complex pathogenesis. Gastric fluid holds little potassium, around 10 mEq/L. Nevertheless, vomiting produces volume depletion and metabolic alkalosis, which are accompanied by increased renal potassium excretion.
  • Endocrine dysfunction
Variations in the secretion of antidiuretic hormone from the posterior pituitary gland place the patient at risk for sodium imbalances. Changes in the thyroid gland and parathyroid gland increase the patient’s risk for calcium imbalances. Disorders linked with changes in cortisol and aldosterone secretion from the adrenal cortex put the patient at risk for imbalance in potassium and sodium.
  • Cancer
The most dangerous forms of electrolyte imbalance in cancer patients is hypercalcemia or a disorder called tumor lysis syndrome that results in electrolyte imbalance from the killing of cancer cells. Both of these can be life-threatening if not managed appropriately.

Nursing Interventions for Risk for Electrolyte Imbalance

The following are the therapeutic nursing interventions you can use for your care plan for Risk for Electrolyte Imbalance nursing diagnosis:

Nursing InterventionsRationaleSupply balanced electrolyte IV solutions as directed.Lactated Ringer’s solution has an electrolyte concentration similar to that of extracellular fluid. Isotonic saline (0.9% sodium chloride) may contribute to hypernatremia if used in a long period of time. Extreme use of sodium free IV solutions (e.g., D5W) puts the patient at risk for hyponatremia.Administer electrolyte replacements as prescribed.Oral or IV administration of electrolytes may be prescribed to keep electrolyte balance for patients at risk for imbalances.Consider measures to reduce excess electrolytes.Hyperkalemia is common in patients with end-stage renal disease and may result in serious electrocardiographic abnormalities. Dialysis is the definitive treatment of hyperkalemia in these patients. Intravenous calcium is used to stabilize the myocardium. Kayexalate may be indicated to patients at risk for electrolyte excesses such as potassium.Irrigate nasogastric tubes with isotonic saline, as prescribed.Irrigation of nasogastric tubes with plain water produces electrolyte losses. Plain water attracts electrolytes from mucosal tissue into the stomach, where they are eliminated with suctioning.Educate the patient about dietary sources of electrolytes.Electrolytes are salts and minerals, like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride, in the body that maintain fluid balance and blood pressure. A balanced diet provides the patient with sources of electrolytes to prevent imbalances. Milk, yogurt, dark green, leafy vegetables, and legumes are excellent sources of electrolyte calcium. Whole grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables are good sources for magnesium and potassium. Bananas are known to be the king of all potassium containing fruits and veggies. Vitamin D is needed for the absorption of calcium from the intestines.
  • Sodium
dill pickles
tomato juices, sauces, and soups
table salt
  • Potassium
potatoes with skin
plain yogurt
banana
  • Calcium
yogurt
milk
ricotta
collard greens
spinach
kale
sardines
  • Chloride
tomato juices, sauces, and soups
lettuce
olives
table salt
  • Magnesium
halibut
pumpkin seeds
spinachEducate the patient about dietary sources of sodium and the use of salt substitutes.Patients need to learn to read labels to identify all sources of sodium in foods. Changing from table salt to a potassium-based salt substitute is another way to shift your sodium-potassium balance, and some preliminary study implies that making this switch may have benefits for the heart. But these potassium-based salt substitutes are not for everyone: Excess potassium can be fatal for people who have kidney disease or who are taking medications that can increase potassium levels in the bloodstream.Educate the patient using potassium-wasting about potassium replacements.To prevent hypokalemia, the patient needs to understand the importance of potassium replacements that include dietary sources and prescribed oral replacements such as potassium chloride (KCl).Educate the patient about limiting the use of over-the-counter antacids and laxatives.Excessive use of antacids that contain magnesium has a laxative effect that may cause diarrhea, and in patients with renal failure, they may cause increased magnesium levels in the blood, because of the reduced ability of the kidneys to eliminate magnesium from the body in the urine.

Recommended nursing diagnosis and nursing care plan books and resources.

Disclosure: Included below are affiliate links from Amazon at no additional cost from you. We may earn a small commission from your purchase. For more information, check out our privacy policy.

What are nursing interventions for a patient with hypokalemia?

Place the patient on a high-potassium diet. If increasing dietary potassium is insufficient to treat moderate hypokalemia, provide oral potassium supplements. A patient who has severe hypokalemia or who can't take oral supplements may need I.V. potassium replacement therapy.

What is intervention for hypokalemia?

Hypokalemia is treated with oral or intravenous potassium. To prevent cardiac conduction disturbances, intravenous calcium is administered to patients with hyperkalemic electrocardiography changes.

Which intervention is a priority for the nurse when caring for a client with hypokalemia?

Because hypokalemia affects the transmission of cardiac impulses, the client is at risk for developing cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiac monitoring has the highest priority.

What nursing care interventions should be performed for a patient with hyperkalemia?

Nursing Management.
Monitor ins and outs..
Check serum potassium levels..
Follow ECG closely to look for peaked T waves..
Educate patient on hyperkalemia..
Administer diuretics as ordered..
Administer insulin to lower potassium as ordered..
Check blood glucose when administering insulin..
Check BUN and creatinine levels..