Which action should a nurse prioritize when managing a client on diuretics with low potassium?

Administering potassium supplements as ordered is the most critical action for a nurse to prioritize when managing a client on diuretics with low potassium levels. Diuretics can lead to a decrease in potassium as they promote increased urine output and the excretion of electrolytes, including potassium. Low potassium, or hypokalemia, can lead to serious complications such as muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and even cardiac arrest. By providing potassium supplements, the nurse helps to replenish the low potassium levels in the patient's body and prevent these adverse effects.

Furthermore, addressing potassium levels directly supports the overall goal of maintaining electrolyte balance in clients who are on diuretics. While increasing dietary sodium intake could exacerbate fluid retention and is generally not advisable in patients on diuretics, and encouraging oral fluid intake might not directly address potassium levels, administering potassium supplements is a targeted intervention that directly counteracts the low potassium issue.

Effective monitoring and management of fluid output are always crucial, but decreasing fluid output monitoring would not be appropriate in this context because it would limit the ability to assess the patient's response to treatment and electrolyte status. Thus, the administration of potassium supplements is the most relevant and immediate intervention needed in this scenario.