Qualified Medication Aides (QMA) Practice Exam

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What is a key nursing consideration when administering potassium replacement medication?

Give on an empty stomach
Crush extended release tablets
Give with food or after meals
Administer only with water

The correct answer is: Give with food or after meals

When administering potassium replacement medication, giving it with food or after meals is a key nursing consideration because it helps to enhance absorption and minimize gastrointestinal irritation. Potassium supplements can sometimes cause stomach upset, so taking them with food can mitigate this effect, leading to better patient tolerability. Additionally, some formulations may require the presence of food for proper absorption, ensuring that the patient receives the full therapeutic benefit of the medication. Other options are less favorable for various reasons. For example, giving potassium on an empty stomach could increase the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or irritation. Crushing extended-release tablets can lead to rapid release of the medication, which defeats the purpose of the formulation designed to dissolve slowly over time, potentially leading to toxicity. Administering only with water, while sometimes acceptable, does not fully address the need to minimize gastrointestinal upset or improve absorption, making it a less comprehensive recommendation in the context of safe potassium replacement.