by Lenore Jarvis (EM) and Lisa Herrmann (HM), Children’s National

· The things to consider regarding safety of giving IV potassium relate primarily to the concentration and rate of the infusion
o IV KCl can be given on an acute care floor and does not necessarily require a PICU or Cardiology consult. Telemetry required only for faster infusion rates or concentration.
· Think critically about why you are considering an infusion of IV KCl
o IV & PO K+ both raise the serum K+ at about the same speed so it shouldn’t be a consideration for the route chosen.
· Safety tips:
o Consider intermittent IV KCl a prolonged infusion instead of a “bolus” to avoid confusion about rapid administration
o When placing an order for IV KCl, consider writing for back-to-back aliquots to minimize opportunity for error