Author Question: The nurse is participating in a program that teaches nurses about various methods of improving care. ... (Read 63 times)

arivle123 · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

The nurse is participating in a program that teaches nurses about various methods of improving care. The nurse notes that the unit where the nurse works would benefit from a Lean Six Sigma system because:

1. Caloric content is very high in client meals and must be reduced.
2. The census indicates a decline in client admissions but the staff has not been decreased.
3. There are not enough supplies on the unit to meet client needs.
4. Nurses have complained that they are not getting their full break time.

Question 2

The nurse is administering glucose and insulin to a client whose potassium level is 5.9 mEq/L. The client's wife says, He doesn't have diabetes, so why is he getting insulin? What is the best response by the nurse?

1. Insulin is safer than giving laxatives such as sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)..
2. Insulin will help his kidneys excrete the extra potassium..
3. Insulin lowers his blood sugar levels and this is how the extra potassium is excreted..
4. Insulin will cause his extra potassium to go into his cells and lower the blood level..

Smiles0805 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

2. The census indicates a decline in client admissions but the staff has not been decreased.

Rationale:
Lean Six Sigma focuses on eliminating waste and improving process flow. When the census decreases, the unit manager should also decrease the number of staff. Caloric content of client meals, a lack of supplies, and shortened break time would not be considered examples of waste.

Answer to Question 2

4. Insulin will cause his extra potassium to go into his cells and lower the blood level..

Rationale:
Serum potassium levels may be temporarily lowered by administering glucose and insulin, which cause potassium to leave the extracellular fluid and enter cells. Giving insulin to decrease serum potassium levels is not considered a safer method than giving sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate). Insulin does not promote renal excretion of potassium. Serum potassium is lowered by entering the cells; this is not controlled by serum glucose.