Hyperkalemia — priorities
Purpose of this sheet: essential emergency care landmarks a nurse or licensed practical nurse in Quebec should keep in mind for clinical practice and for succeeding on the OIIQ or OIIAQ entry exam. Exam relevance: In emergency situations, the OIIQ verifies the ability to recognize clinical deterioration and act using the ABCDE approach. — Clinical landmarks — Above 6.0 mmol/L, the danger is cardiac, not the number itself. 1. ECG and continuous cardiac monitoring: peaked T waves, then a widened QRS, then arrhythmia 2. Notify immediately 3. Stabilize the myocardium: calcium gluconate 4. Shift potassium into the cell: insulin with dextrose, salbutamol 5. Remove potassium: diuretic, binding resin, dialysis 6. Stop every source: potassium in the IV, potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors — Remember — Use this sheet in spaced repetition, pair it with a matching clinical scenario on NursEduc, and always compare values to the person's baseline before drawing conclusions. Keywords: emergency, ABCDE, prioritization, resuscitation, clinical deterioration, OIIQ exam, OIIQ exam prep, OIIAQ exam prep, nurse in Quebec, NursEduc.