A nurse in a provider's office is collecting data from a client who takes furosemide daily for heart failure. Which of the following findings is a manifestation of hypokalemia?
Explanation & Rationale
A. A positive Trousseau’s sign is a clinical indicator of hypocalcemia, not hypokalemia. It occurs due to increased neuromuscular excitability from low calcium levels, typically causing carpal spasms when a blood pressure cuff is inflated. B. Increased bowel sounds are usually associated with hyperactive gut activity, which can be seen in early hyperkalemia or gastrointestinal irritation. Hypokalemia more commonly leads to decreased bowel motility, constipation, or paralytic ileus. C. Numbness or tingling in the feet is more characteristic of peripheral neuropathy, vitamin deficiencies, or electrolyte disturbances like hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia, rather than hypokalemia. D. Fatigue is a hallmark symptom of hypokalemia. Low potassium levels impair skeletal and smooth muscle function, leading to generalized weakness, muscle cramps, and overall fatigue. Clients taking loop diuretics like furosemide are particularly at risk due to increased renal potassium loss.