Answer :
Final answer:
The answer to the student's question is that you should never give more than 40 mEq of K per liter of IV fluid. The preparation of IV solutions at the correct concentration is essential to match the body's electrolyte balance and avoid complications.
Explanation:
Never give more than 40 mEq of K per liter of IV fluid to avoid the risk of causing hyperkalemia or other complications. In medical practice, preparing IV solutions with the correct electrolyte concentration is crucial, as the overall concentration of electrolytes in intravenous fluids must be about the same as that in the body fluids. This is to maintain the balance of electrolytes, which is essential for normal body function. For instance, Ringer's lactate solution, which is commonly used in medical settings, contains specific concentrations of electrolytes, including potassium.
If a physician orders that a patient receive a 100 mL intervention of 0.5% KCl for hypokalemia, the medical staff in an emergency room will carefully prepare this solution, potentially from a more concentrated stock solution. An example calculation shows that if the stock solution is 10.0% KCl, only 5 mL of this stock would be needed to prepare 100 mL of 0.5% solution, with the remainder of the volume made up with diluent, typically sterile water for injection.
