A client has a prescription for IV potassium chloride replacement. Which nursing action is safe?
1Give the medication undiluted through a peripheral IV.
2Use an infusion pump and follow the prescribed dilution and rate.✓ Correct answer
3Stop cardiac monitoring because potassium is a routine electrolyte.
4Administer potassium chloride by rapid IV push.
Explanation
IV potassium chloride must be diluted and infused at a controlled rate, commonly using an infusion pump and facility policy. Rapid IV push or undiluted administration can cause fatal dysrhythmias. Monitoring depends on dose, route, and client condition.
Clinical Judgment Use the client cues, timing, labs, and safety risks to select the response that best fits IV potassium replacement safety.
Memory Tip Match the strongest cue cluster to the safest nursing judgment.
KR vs US NCLEX items reward cue-based priority thinking rather than isolated recall.
Clinical Practice GuideFor IV potassium replacement safety, compare the complete cue pattern with the client's current stability, ordered data, and expected nursing scope.
CautionDo not choose an action from one isolated cue when the full scenario changes priority or safety.
Potassium Chloride — An electrolyte replacement medication that can affect cardiac rhythm.
Infusion Pump — A device that controls the rate of IV medication delivery.
Dysrhythmia — An abnormal heart rhythm that may be life-threatening.