MEDICAL - SURGICAL NURSING

FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES

POTASSIUM
Presented by Group 2
3NU06 LIM | LIMOS | LIMPIN | LIWANAG | LIZARDO | MANARANG | MANIWANG
 POTASSIUM
TABLE
CONTENT
OF
01 Background S04 Diagnostics

Causes Nursing Management

02 05

03 Pathophysiology 06 Medical Management

 POTASSIUM
01 BACKGROUN Extracellular

D
fluid

• Depending on the individual's size, the body has an average of 3,200

mEq of potassium for men and 2,200 mEq for women. Celll
• 98% of the body's potassium is located in the intracellular fluid membrane
• 2% found in the liver and red blood cells and the other 7% in skeletal
muscle
• The extracellular fluid contains the remaining 2%

Intracellular
fluid

NORMAL Serum K+ : 3.5-5.2 mEq/L

02 CAUSES

HYPERKALEMIA
Reducedexcretion,excessiveingestion,orthe High Potassium Diabetes
Diet
movementofpotassiumfrominsidethecellsto
extracellularspace.

Heart Disease Impaired Renal

Function
02 CAUSES

HYPOKALEMIA
Excessiveexcretion,insufficientdietaryintake,
Vomitin Low dietary Diarrhe
orpotassiummovingfromextracellularfluidto g intake a
cells.

Medications Hyperaldosteronism
03

HYPERKALEMIA
Pathophysiology
03

HYPOKALEMIA
Pathophysiology
04 DIAGNOSTICS
Hyperkalemia Hypokalemia
• Serum PotassiumTest
• SerumPotassiumTest • Basic or comprehensive metabolic panel
• EKG • Urine test
Serum K+ > 5.2 mEq/L • ECG or EKG

Serum K <3.5 mEq/L

(Severe Hypokalemia K < 3.0 mEq/L)
 05
NURSING MANAGEMENT
Hyperkalemia
IDENTIFICATIONAND
MONITORING:
• Identify at-risk patients (e.g., kidney
disease).
• Monitor I&O, muscle weakness,
arrhythmias.
• Check apical pulse, note paresthesias, GI
symptoms.
• Monitor serum K+, BUN, creatinine,
glucose,ABG.
 05

NURSING MANAGEMENT
Hypokalemia
IDENTIFICATIONAND MONITORING:
• MONITORAT-RISK PATIENTS FOR EARLY HYPOKALEMIA
SIGNS.
• BEALERT FOR FATIGUE,ANOREXIA, MUSCLE
WEAKNESS, PARESTHESIAS,ANDARRHYTHMIAS.
• ECG CAN PROVIDEADDITIONAL INSIGHTS.
 05

NURSING MANAGEMENT
Hyperkalemia
PREVENTION:
• Encourage potassium restriction.
• Avoid potassium-rich foods, choose low-potassium
options.
 05

NURSING MANAGEMENT
Hypokalemia
PREVENTION:

• Encourage potassium-rich foods (e.g., bananas,

melon, lean meats).
• Educate on laxative/diuretic risks and promote
healthier habits.
• Assess health history for modifiable risk
factors.
• Monitor fluid intake/output and ECG/ABG for
changes.
 05
NURSING MANAGEMENT
Hyperkalemia
CORRECTING HYPerkalemia:

• Carefully monitor IV potassium

administration.
• Use infusion pump for IV potassium.
• Limit salt substitutes with potassium.
• Avoid potassium-related treatments in
kidney injury.
 05
NURSING MANAGEMENT
Hypokalemia
ADMINISTERING INTRAVENOUS POTASSIUM:

• Give IV potassium after ensuring adequate urine

output.
• Stop infusion if urine output falls below 20 mL/h
for 2 consecutive hours and notify provider.
• Use caution with IV potassium, follow facility
policy.
• Monitor renal function and signs of
hypokalemia/hyperkalemia during replacement
therapy.
 05

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT & DRUG OF CHOICE

Hyperkalemia Hypokalemia
CALCIUM GLUCONATE ORAL POTASSIUM MANAGEMENT
for dangerously elevated serum potassium - When dietary intake is inadequate, prescribe oral
levels potassium supplements.

IV POTASSIUM MANAGEMENT
Sodium bicarbonate
- When oral measures are insufficient or not feasible, IV
- for severe metabolic acidosis
replacement therapy must be initiated.

REGULAR INSULIN & HYPERTONIC

DEXTROSE SOLUTION
- to shift potassium into cells
 05

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT & DRUG OF CHOICE

Hyperkalemia Hypokalemia
Loop diuretics Potassium chloride (KCl)
- ex. Furosemide for correcting potassium deficits;
-to increase water and potassium potassium acetate or potassium
excretion
phosphate may also be used.

Beta-2 agonists
- ex. Albuterol
- can decrease potassium, but may cause
tachycardia and chest
 MEDICAL - SURGICAL NURSING
FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES

POTASSIUM
Presented by
Group 2

3NU06 LIM | LIMOS | LIMPIN | LIWANAG | LIZARDO | MANARANG | MANIWANG