The nurse is to administer 40 mEq of IV KCl to the patient with severe hypokalemia.Why did the pharmacy send up four 100 mL IV bags with 10 mEq of KCl in each bag?

A) To prevent the patient from receiving too much IV fluid.
B) The four smaller bags are less expensive than one large one.
C) To prevent accidentally infusing the 40 mEq of KCl too quickly.
D) The doctor may change his mind and lower the prescribed KCl dose.

Rapid infusion of KCl can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias.The pharmacy sent up four separate IV bags containing 10 mEq KCl in each to prevent accidentally infusing the 40 mEq of KCL too quickly.Four smaller bags are not necessarily less expensive than one large bag but the cost is less important than patient safety.The small amount of extra fluid is negligible.The infusion may be stopped if the physician lowers the ordered dose of KCl.