April2152

Right! I totally knew that but for some reason forgot to apply it to DKA. Thanks everyone!

So pretty much what we would observe clinically is hyperkalemia because the osmotic duiresis does not move serum potassium significantly?

I searched through this site, my textbook and asked my teachers and I haven't found consistency or a concise answer. I understand that DKA effects potassium for a few reasons: during acidemia (sp?) hydrogen ions move into cells and potassium moves into the ECF, kidneys excrete glucose when levels are high excreting potassium with it and once insulin is administered potassium moves into cells. I also understand that potassium is withheld until levels are low or normal and that levels are monitored due to the potential risk of cardiac arrhythmias. What I can't seem to get an answer to is which of these comes first. Hypokalemia or hyperkalemia? Does it depend on the pt? The severity of DKA? Any and all help is needed. It's on my first med surg test this week.

Hello all! I'm currently in my second semester and will be graduating August 2014, then start my BSN the following spring! Wish I could start the fall but there is not enough time for my boards to be in before school starts. Anyways cannot wait to finish this chapter and be a real nurse! So glad to be on this journey with you guys! Let's keep this going until graduation!

I'm not sure if you mentioned if you were in your first semester or not but in my first semester we did a lot of CNA work and as we learned skills at lab, we did more in clinicals. I know it can be frustrating especially since you know a lot of those skills but I found that I was able to get to know my patient better because I got to spend more time with them and practice my therapeutic communication. Now that I'm in adult med surg, they have told us we aren't doing as much CNA stuff such as bed making and bathing. Essentially they treat everyone as if they are starting fresh and build on fundamentals and in order to delegate you need to be able to do it yourself. Don't worry you will get to the point of doing skills on the clinical floor that you will be very unfamiliar with then you may want to do something less challenging like making a bed! This too shall pass but until then enjoy surpassing the expectations of your clinical instructor because you do know all of this stuff!

I smell a moderator will be posting soon which is a shame because I feel the OP original topic and post was nice and something us students and former students can all relate to.