potassium

Bipley · Nov 9, 2005

in case you'd hadn't noticed...nobody bothered to post an answer because this is one that you as a student nurse should...no...*must* look-up on your own.
nobody wants to be a harda$$ here...but too many students have come here looking for answers to topics they know they should research/look-up themselves. this is why some seasoned nurses *appear* mean or tough...but really...we know that the only way in learning is by having students do their own homework. only when we see *some* effort done on their parts do we assist them when they get stuck!
good luck with school ebethluther ~ cheers,
moe

personally i'll answer any question i am comfortable answering correctly with the understanding that i'm going to ask the student something in return to make them think.

i really do believe that it's acceptable to answer a question, one that perhaps can be found easily by looking it up because we can expand upon what the books say. while i admit i would prefer a question that started with ... i looked this up but this part doesn't make sense to me... or ... i want to know more than the books tell me about "x".

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Nov 9, 2005

the arrogance of some :angryfire !!! first of all...i'll address the op, ebethluther.

my initial post was one meant for encouragement. you posed the question 6:37 pm & *nobody* even bothered to respond to it until i did approx 2.5 hours later. didn't that fact strike you just a bit strange? i was politely letting you know *why* it was nobody responded! i also stated in my reply that nurses here don't mind *helping* students out*after* they've showed us they've done *some* independent research of their own. this site is not here to give out homework *answers* for students at will....we've all seen it countless times before. we all been students before as well & know what you're going through! no...what i'd was tactfully stating was that you'll learn better by actually doing the work as best *you* can for yourselves. after you've done that...& you're *still* stuck...then you can either do a few things. a) do a topic search first....you'll find that you're not the first students coming here for answers to all sorts of topics. b) you can form study groups with other students & post in the student's forum...this will help others who may have similar problems...why not help each other out. c) or simply befriend a season nurse or two & pm them privately for suggestion, advice, etc. that would be the responsible thing to do. your response is typical of people who feel they're entailed to something...anything in life. you should've learn this by now but here goes...."nothing worth while in life will come easy!" nobody said they were perfect here...just giving you some valuable advise that you'll be able to apply in your nursing school career, god willing, your nursing career, or just to be applied in life period. i've read your profile & other post & noticed a pattern...you've started threads/questions that pertain to an assignment or two & am asking for "help." quite a few responded to your questions regarding diabetes. licensed nurses here are rather wary when it comes to students such as yourself. you come here to *ask for help*...but really want us to do your homework! when you are told to do so (because it only takes a few "i need your help" post by students) before somebody come down on you. i've taking the most tactful way...but you've gone & blown out of the water by your entailment attitude. people will read you're reply & know just where you stand. anyhoo...i still want to wish you the best with school...just do your own work .

now as for miss cindyrn 2006's reply to nenern or mine...i've got just one thing to say....humble pie. nobody said that nursing students were idiots!!!! as nenern stated that the op didn't know that answer as evidenced by their initial question!!! all that nenern was saying is that it isn't enough to just have an answer posted...there are rationales that go behind the how, what, & whys. by posting quick answers the way that you've done simply rob the op from such rationale(s). it's pretty darn dangerous nursing practice to seek information as important as medication administration from a bb site....don't ya think? would you want to practice beside someone who cheats or take the short cut in their nursing practice? how on earth do you feel about staying up those extra hours to prepare for clinicals the next day while someone else comes here & get answers from the bb? in the future...don't be soooo quick in being defensive when people who care are giving valuable life's advice. it took a long time & for many, a hard road in order for them to obtain their nursing diploma/degree/licensure for others to come here & take the "easy road." please do have *some* respect for those who've came through school & pave the way for you. not everything is about "eating your young." i really do want to wish you luck in school as well ...

cheers,

moe

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Nov 9, 2005

..." while i admit i would prefer a question that started with ... i looked this up but this part doesn't make sense to me... or ... i want to know more than the books tell me about "x".

that's exactly what i'm saying!!! if the student comes here with "i don't quite understand what "x" book/article/website means by "....", can you help me understand.

but i'm talking about questions/topics being started without *any* effort on the part of students is robbing them (& their patients) in the long run!

cheers,

moe

Bipley · Nov 9, 2005

that's exactly what i'm saying!!! if the student comes here with "i don't quite understand what "x" book/article/website means by "....", can you help me understand.
but i'm talking about questions/topics being started without *any* effort on the part of students is robbing them (& their patients) in the long run!
cheers,
moe

i'm not sure it is robbing the students in the long run. however, i also ask the student questions in return. when we respond to a question we are not just telling them what is in the book, we are giving them additional information they won't find in their books.

would i answer every bloody question on their homework? no, but when i see an opportunity to teach, i do. however i also used to teach cpht and nursing, so it's just something i prefer to do.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Nov 9, 2005

potassium should be given with food. it can cause lots and lots of gi upset. nausea and simple old stomach pain can be pretty severe with potassium.

also, keep in mind that when you give a drug that can cause gi upset... and you give it day after day after day, it causes lots of gi upset. it's one thing if it is a one time only drug but qd dosing or bid dosing (typical) can really hurt the person.

i guess i tend to agree and disagree with those that feel you should look this up. there are little things that the books don't tell us that come from experience. one might not realize that although a drug could cause gi upset giving x1, it can cause lots of gi upset if given on a regular basis.

now, my question for you is this... if a drug that is given po causes gi upset, will that same drug cause the same gi distress if given iv? a great example might be toradol. toradol is famous for stomach pain after po admin, but is it better if given iv? what about im?

edit to add question #2: which classes of drugs can cause gi problems? meaning, n/v/d? please, students only answer.

i like your interactive style bipley! this way....students will learn by thinking all the way around. not just wanting a quick response...but actually doing some critical thinking!

cheers,

moe

Bipley · Nov 9, 2005

i like your interactive style bipley! this way....students will learn by thinking all the way around. not just wanting a quick response...but actually doing some critical thinking!
cheers,
moe

thanks. however... don't think i don't keep mental notes of who accepts the quick and easy answers vs. those who do the homework of figuring out my questions. :chuckle

fool me once, it's my fault. fool me twice and i'll work your butt off.

okay, that is from when i was teaching but you get my point.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Nov 9, 2005

get a life!!!!!!!! you are mean.

Bipley · Nov 9, 2005

Get a life!!!!!!!! You are mean.

Wrong-o. No she most certainly is not mean. She wants the students to think an issue through. THAT is what nursing is all about.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Nov 9, 2005

thanks. however... don't think i don't keep mental notes of who accepts the quick and easy answers vs. those who do the homework of figuring out my questions. :chuckle

fool me once, it's my fault. fool me twice and i'll work your butt off.

okay, that is from when i was teaching but you get my point.

as i said before...many nurses here don't mind helping out those who are genuinely stuck. those students usually will premise their topic & go on from there. but it's those students who chronically post questions that pertain to their homework & expect answers that troubles many of us.

cheers,

moe

MMARN, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2005

how do you administer potassium? on an empty stomach or full?

I guess next time, ebethluther, ask the question the way they want it asked. Otherwise, besides getting the answer and ways of how obtaining your answer in your thread, you'll be getting nurses getting upset with you:crying2: :chuckle ! I hope you do well in school and that you find a way to research and study that will help you. Good luck!

Bipley · Nov 9, 2005

I guess next time, ebethluther, ask the question the way they want it asked. Otherwise, besides getting the answer and ways of how obtaining your answer in your thread, you'll be getting nurses getting upset with you:crying2: :chuckle ! I hope you do well in school and that you find a way to research and study that will help you. Good luck!

That's not really fair. We ALL have our own way of teaching and with as many older and more experienced nurses as each student will encounter, it is only fair that they are prepared for a various number of approaches.

Yep, I answer questions, but I assure you that I will make you squirm wayyyy more than Moe will. I'll make your life a living hell. But you know what? I'll answer your questions... all of them. Especially those that can be found by looking in your Drug Book.

Be preprared to wiggle and suffer cuz I'll make you do all the above plus some. IOW, I wouldn't be knocking Moe's way. You'll learn from both of us. I'll merely make you suffer in the meantime.

The moral of the story is to choose your medicine wisely. Taking the easy route isn't always the easier way out.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2005

how do you administer potassium? on an empty stomach or full?

Hello, again, ebethluther! Potassium is very irritating whether it is given orally or IV. I've seen patients get sick and throw it up when potassium liquid was given on an empty stomach and even with food. If you can dilute the liquid down in something like a breakfast sized amount of apple juice that is less likely to happen. For this reason, you will want to have the patient take liquid potassium right after eating a meal--there's more food in the stomach to help dilute it down.

Slow-K was designed to pass into the intestine before it begins releasing it's potassium. It was developed to release it's potassium in the intestine over a long period of time to help avoid the gastric irritation of it.

To those who were talking about IV potassium. . .IV potassium is very caustic and irritating on the veins. It is never, never, never given as an IV push because it will put the heart in immediate heart block and the patient will die. It is only administered IV when diluted. The minimum dilution for IV bolus which is the most rapid way to get it into the system is 10mEq of potassium in at least 100cc of saline or D5W. That solution is then infused no faster than over a one hour period. A higher dilution would be even better. You will often see 20 or 40mEq of it mixed into a liter of IV fluids. Patients receiving these 100cc boluses of potassium will often complain of pain at their IV sites or pain running up the arm--this stuff is very irritating to the veins. Patients will also develop phlebitis very quickly in the veins getting potassium boluses requiring an IV site change. Some doctors will order a small amount of lidocaine to be mixed with a potassium bolus to help make the patient more comfortable, but I have not always seen this work so well. Neither does a warm or cold compress over the IV site. You will only see IV boluses of potassium ordered when the patient's potassium level is very, very low and the docs want to get it up into the normal range as quickly and safely as possible. Remember that the oral route of most drugs is not as efficient as the IV route.