Potassium Imbalance Nursing Cheat Sheet – Hypokalemia & Hyperkalemia ECG Study Guide (Printable PDF)

This one-page visual decodes how potassium writes itself onto the ECG — so you can read a rising or falling level off the waveform instead of waiting on a result, and understand the “why” behind every change.

What’s inside:

• Hypokalemia vs. hyperkalemia, compared on one ECG strip
• Why potassium runs the heart’s electrical reset — the mechanism behind every sign
• Hallmark waveform cues: flattened T with an emerging U wave (low) vs. tall, peaked, tented T (high)
• The widening-QRS red flag — escalate-now vs. wait-and-recheck
• Normal range reference (3.5–5.0 mEq/L, lab-dependent) + nursing priorities
• What’s independent (reading the strip) vs. what needs an order (replacement/treatment)

Perfect for: nursing students, new grads, NCLEX prep, med-surg 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.