A patient is admitted with dehydration and hypokalemia. What intervention should the nurse prioritize?

Hypokalemia is serum potassium <3.5 mmol/L leading to altered cardiac repolarization, skeletal muscle weakness, and increased risk of ventricular dysrhythmias. Combined with dehydration, it can worsen electrolyte imbalance, reduce perfusion, and precipitate life-threatening cardiac conduction abnormalities. Rationale: A. Encouraging potassium-rich foods supports long-term correction but does not address immediate cardiac risks. Dietary intake acts slowly and is insufficient for acute hypokalemia. This does not prevent arrhythmogenic complications. B. Daily weight monitoring assesses fluid balance in dehydration but does not address the immediate danger of hypokalemia. It is a monitoring tool rather than an intervention. This does not manage risk of cardiac dysrhythmias. C. Continuous telemetry is the priority because hypokalemia directly affects cardiac conduction and can cause lethal arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia. Early detection of rhythm changes allows immediate intervention. This directly addresses electrical cardiac instability. D. Administering oral fluids corrects dehydration but does not rapidly correct potassium imbalance. It may be necessary but is not the priority in preventing cardiac complications. This does not immediately stabilize electrophysiological risk.