Potassium, Nursing Interventions in Hyperkalemia and Hypokalemia - Essay Example

Hyperkalemia is the increased serum levels of potassium over 5mg/100 ml. Potassium is critical for the functionality of the heart, muscles, and nerves, thus an increased level of potassium would result in muscle weakness, oliguria, respiratory distress, decreased contractility of the heart, and hyperreflexia or flaccidity of the skeletal muscles. Hyperkalemia is caused by dysfunction of the kidney, adrenal gland disease, or cell shift of potassium, from cells to blood circulation.

Hypokalemia is the low concentration of potassium in the blood; less than 3.5mg/100ml. Hypokalemia is caused by insufficient dietary consumption of potassium, gastrointestinal fluid loss, and urinary loss especially when one is on diuretics. Hypokalemia presents with signs and symptoms of muscle weakness, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, flaccid paralysis hyporeflexia, and constipation (Jung et al., 2009).

Nursing interventions in Hyperkalemia and hypokalemia
A nurse must be very vigilant in monitoring for signs of hyperkalemia and hypokalemia to enhance the early management of the condition. This would include the action of the nurse to periodically monitor vital signs, heart rhythm, cardiovascular status, and the abdomen for signs of distention, bowel sounds, and pain. The nurse would then notify the physician of the abnormal findings that are an indication of either hyperkalemia or hypokalemia. The physician would order appropriate medication for the treatment of the condition. During management, the nurse would engage the patient and the family in health education about the condition as a means of preventing the reoccurrence of the condition (Porth, 2011). Read More