NS with KCl 20mEq ordered; 0.5% Dextrose and .45NaCl with KCl 20mEq given

[wrst]

Patient reported to have LBM X 7 since morning (its now 7pm). Aide reported only 1 BM all day, soft and formed.

MD ordered NS with KCl 20mEq.

0.5% Dextrose and .45NaCl with KCl 20mEq given, patient tolerated well.

Patient has NO history of DM or not on sugar watch.

What could be the a/e of the given IV? What would be the anticipated nursing measures? Documentation? Corrections? Repercussion?

Thank you all!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Slightly off topic here but in the hospitals where I work, abbreviations are strongly frowned upon as misunderstandings and errors can occur much more easily.

[offlabel]

soutthpaw said:

Also I think you mean 5% dextrose not 0.5% .05= 5% .5= 50% which is usually in a 50ML bolus used for acute hypoglycemia.

Real nurses will correct me if I guessed wrong...

5% is 5% and 0.5% is 0.5%. You're mixing your units. D5W is 5 gm of dextrose in 100 cc's. If there was such a thing as D.5%W that would be one half gm of dextrose in 100 cc's. D50W is 50 gm dextrose in 100 cc's but it comes in a 25 gm in 50 ml's.