Dont understand why i got it wrong(??)

[rosemary_petals]

At our school and according to lippincott/Willet the normal lab value for potassium chloride is 3.5 - 5.2. Well one of the questions on our meds test was would you hold or administer this med if the patient's potassium level was 3.5 and the doctor's order reads give daily dose of potassium chloride once daily.

The answer I chose was HOLD the med bc the pt's K+ lab value is normal.

Well this answer was marked WRONG and I FAILED the test bc I missed this one.

Why would I give the pt this drug if his/her levels are 3.5 which is considered a normal range???

My teacher said you would still give it but you would hold it if its 5.2. (??) so lost!

[loriangel14, RN]

As long as their levels were within the safe range you would give it. You would hold it if their levels were too high. If they are receiving the potassium and the labs show their levels are normal you would give it as ordered.Obviously the dose is needed to keep the levels normal for that patient.Usually patients that are on a diuretic need a potassium supplement since diuretics deplete potassium levels.

[rosemary_petals]

Is there a reason you would hold it at 5.2 and give it at 3.5 when both figures are in the normal range? This is where I get really confused. Your rationale is a good one and makes a lot of sense.

[loriangel14, RN]

3.5 is well within the normal range and you want to maintain that.Why would you hold it when the level is normal?

5.2 is at the very top of the normal range.You would hold it to keep the level in the normal range.

[rosemary_petals]

OMG!!! I get it now! Don't know why I couldn't figure it out. Makes so much sense now! God bless you!

[kaydensmom01]

ok, seen that you got it so I deleted my post.

[loriangel14, RN]

The supplement is being given on a daily basis. The lab work shows that this dose is keeping his levels in the right range so you would continue.

Glad I could help.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

It is because the patient is losing the potassium and you want to maintain the normal range. Think of it as a glass with a hole in the bottom. You want to the level in the glass the same, so every 8 hrs you check it and add more. If you check it and the hole gets plugged and the fluid is at the rim of the glass you don't want to add any more.

[pookyp, LPN]

It is because the patient is losing the potassium and you want to maintain the normal range. Think of it as a glass with a hole in the bottom. You want to the level in the glass the same so every 8 hrs you check it and add more. If you check it and the hole gets plugged and the fluid is at the rim of the glass you don't want to add any more.[/quote']

Good analogy.