The Priority Concern With a Potassium of 6.2

Cardiac · Question from the ATI RN Medical-Surgical 2023 Proctored Exam study set

Correct answer: B. Cardiac dysrhythmias

Why this is the answer

A potassium of 6.2 mEq/L is well above the normal range of 3.5–5.0, and hyperkalemia's most dangerous effect is on cardiac conduction — it can cause peaked T-waves, a widened QRS, and potentially lethal arrhythmias including ventricular fibrillation. Muscle cramps (A) are more classically tied to low potassium or low calcium/magnesium, not high potassium. Constipation (C) is actually a hypokalemia finding, since low potassium slows smooth muscle motility — hyperkalemia doesn't typically cause it. Increased hunger (D) has no established link to potassium levels at all.

The bigger concept

Whenever a lab value comes back critically abnormal, the nursing priority is whatever body system that value threatens most urgently — for potassium, that's always the heart. This is why a critical potassium result triggers an EKG and cardiac monitoring before anything else.

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