A nurse administering potassium to a patient with hypokalemia should prioritize what assessment?

Hypokalemia involves reduced serum potassium concentration, affecting cardiac conduction, neuromuscular excitability, and acid-base balance. Potassium administration carries a high risk of life-threatening hyperkalemia if excretion is impaired, since potassium is primarily eliminated via the kidneys through glomerular filtration and distal tubular secretion. Rationale: A. Monitoring oxygen saturation is important for respiratory status but does not determine safety of potassium administration. Oxygenation status is not directly related to potassium clearance or risk of toxicity. Therefore, it is not the priority assessment. B. Blood glucose levels are unrelated to potassium infusion safety. Although insulin and potassium are physiologically linked, glucose monitoring does not assess the patient’s ability to excrete potassium or prevent hyperkalemia. Thus, it is not a priority. C. Assessing renal function and urine output is critical because potassium is excreted primarily by the kidneys. Adequate urinary output confirms the body can eliminate administered potassium, preventing hyperkalemia and fatal cardiac arrhythmias. This is the most important safety assessment. D. Peripheral pulses reflect peripheral perfusion, but they do not provide information about potassium handling or risk of toxicity. While useful in cardiovascular assessment, they are not specific to safe potassium administration. Therefore, this is not the priority.