(^434) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
- Restrict potassium intake.
- Dialysis for severe elevations.
NURSING DIAGNOSIS
- Decreased cardiac output
- Risk for imbalanced fluid volume
- Activity intolerance
- Altered bowel elimination
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
- Monitor vital signs.
- Monitor cardiac rhythm.
- Monitor cardiovascular status for regularity of rhythm, rate, heart sounds, and
peripheral pulses. - Monitor abdomen for bowel sounds, distention, and pain.
- Monitor intravenous site for redness, swelling, and pain.
- Teach patient about medications and diet:
- Avoid foods that are high in potassium.
- Avoid salt substitutes (most are potassium-based).
Hypomagnesemia
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Hypomagnesemia is a lower-than-normal magnesium level in the blood. Low serum
levels of magnesium can be due to lack of sufficient intake or absorption (malnutri-
tion, vomiting, diarrhea, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease), excess excretion of mag-
nesium (renal loss, chronic alcohol intake, diuretic use, aminoglycoside antibiotics,
antineoplastics), or intracellular movement of magnesium (ascites, hyperglycemia,
insulin administration). The cell membranes become more excitable in the setting of
low magnesium levels. Patients may also have associated imbalances of potassium
and calcium.7