Hyperkalemic emergencies. Mechanisms, manifestations, and management

Care of the patient with hyperkalemia provides the critical care nurse with a challenging opportunity to use clinical knowledge, skills, and critical thinking. What is the cause of the hyperkalemia? What are the patient's signs and symptoms? What clues do the patient's history and physical assessment hold? What treatments are necessary and how will their effectiveness be measured? Finally, how can subsequent episodes of hyperkalemia be prevented in this patient? Knowledge about potassium, its functions and its regulatory mechanisms provides the critical care nurse with the opportunity to identify patients at risk and employ early, often life-saving, interventions.