A nurse is teaching a patient discharged on oral potassium chloride (extended-release tablet) 20 mEq twice daily for diuretic-induced hypokalemia. Which teaching points should be included? Select all that apply.
Select All That Apply
Choose your responses, then check the answer.
Explanation
Oral KCl teaching: take with food and full glass of water (GI protection), NEVER crush or split extended-release (causes esophageal/gastric ulcer), avoid K+ salt substitutes (hyperkalemia), report hyperkalemia symptoms. Choice 5 is dangerous — double-dosing potassium can cause life-threatening hyperkalemia; the rule is take a missed dose if remembered soon, or skip and take the next scheduled dose at usual time, but never double up.
The "never crush" rule for KCl extended-release is among the most-tested NCLEX medication-administration points. Crushing destroys the extended-release matrix, dumping all the potassium at once and causing severe esophageal/gastric ulceration. Other never-crush drugs: nitroglycerin SR, aspirin EC, omeprazole DR, levodopa CR. Salt substitutes are a high-yield trap because patients/families often consider them "healthy".
Patient on chronic furosemide and oral KCl extended-release 20 mEq BID for diuretic-induced hypokalemia. Discharge teaching needed.
Extended-release KCl — Slow-release oral potassium; never crush/chew/split; take with food and water for GI protection.
Potassium salt substitutes — Products like Morton Lite Salt contain potassium chloride; combined with KCl supplement can cause hyperkalemia.
Missed dose rule — Take when remembered if soon; skip if close to next dose; NEVER double up — applies to KCl, anticoagulants, antihypertensives.