Hyperkalemia Nursing Cheat Sheet – Why Calcium Doesn’t Lower Potassium (Printable PDF)

You pushed calcium for a high potassium — and it did nothing to the potassium. That’s not a mistake. That’s the whole point.

What’s inside:

• The “stabilize → shift → remove” framework, step by step
• Why calcium protects the membrane without lowering the potassium level
• Which drugs actually shift potassium (insulin + glucose) vs. remove it
• ECG progression to watch — peaked T waves marching up, widening complex
• Nursing priorities: get the ECG, stay on the monitor, escalate the wide complex fast
• Normal potassium reference range noted (lab-dependent)

Perfect for: nursing students, new grads, NCLEX prep, med-surg, tele, and critical care floors.

Instant PDF & PNG download — print it, slip it in your clinical binder, or save it to your phone.

For educational and study purposes only. Not medical advice or a treatment protocol.