Pharmacology Proctored ATI Practice Exam

A client's serum potassium level is 5.3 mEq/L. Which medication should the nurse plan to administer?

1. Furosemide

2. Potassium chloride

3. Spironolactone

4. Calcium gluconate

The correct answer is: Furosemide

Furosemide is a loop diuretic that helps in the excretion of potassium in the kidneys. In this case, the client has a high serum potassium level of 5.3 mEq/L, indicating hyperkalemia. By administering furosemide, the nurse can help the client eliminate excess potassium through increased urine output, thus lowering the serum potassium levels. It is essential to understand the pharmacological actions of each medication option to determine the appropriate choice for the given situation. Potassium chloride (Option B) would not be the correct choice in this scenario because the client already has a high serum potassium level, and administering more potassium would further elevate this level. Spironolactone (Option C) is a potassium-sparing diuretic that helps retain potassium in the body. Since the client is presenting with hyperkalemia, administering spironolactone would not be appropriate as it could worsen the elevated potassium levels. Calcium gluconate (Option D) is often used in the treatment of hyperkalemia to help stabilize the cardiac cell membrane, but it does not directly lower the serum potassium levels like furosemide does. In this case, furosemide would be the more appropriate choice to address the elevated potassium level.