Hyperkalemia

Question 1

Hyperkalemia

Answer 1

Means: high potassium in blood

Normal potassium level: 3.5-5.1 and 7.0 and up is dangerous

Extracellular fluid: fluid outside of cell
Intracellular fluid: fluid inside the cell

Blood test: if a doctor orders a blood test to test for potassium, they are looking for the levels outside the cell in the extracellular fluid.

Question 2

Hyperkalemia potassium

Answer 2

Potassium is responsible for cardiac/heart

• if kidneys don’t work then potassium increases

Question 3

Causes for high potassium- hyperkalemia

Answer 3

Remember “body CARED too much for potassium”

C- cellular movement of k+ from intracell to extracellular (burns, tissue damage)-Acidosis
A- adrenal insufficiency (Addison disease)-hypoaldosteronism
R- renal failure
E- excessive potassium intake
D- drugs- potassium-sparing diuretics: aldacton, trianterne, ACE inhibitors)

Question 4

Signs and symptoms for hyperkalemia

Answer 4

Remember “murder”
M- muscle weakness
U- urine production low/absent
R- respiratory failure (muscle weakness/seizures)
D- dysrhythmias ( decrease cardiac contractility, decrease pulse, low blood pressure)
E- early signs of muscle twitching- flaccid paralysis(loose limbs)
R- rhythm changes- tall T waves, flat P waves, wide QRS complex

Question 5

Nursing interventions for hyperkalemia

Answer 5

Monitor input and outtake
Monitor potassium level
Doctors may order hypertonic solution, cause potassium to go back into cell
Prepare for dialysis- keeps body in balance
Initiate potassium strict diet
Potatoes,oranges,tomatoes,strawberries,spinach,fish,mushroom, cantaloupe
Kayexalate- sodium absorption which promotes potassium secretion, enema or po