A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a school-age child who is being admitted for diabetic ketoacidosis. Which of the following interventions should the nurse recommend?

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious metabolic complication characterized by hyperglycemia, ketosis, and acidosis. One of the most dangerous complications of DKA treatment is hypokalemia, which can arise as insulin therapy drives potassium back into cells. Hypokalemia, along with the electrolyte shifts and acidosis inherent in DKA, places the child at high risk for life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias. Therefore, initiating continuous cardiac monitoring is an essential nursing intervention when caring for a school-age child with DKA, allowing early detection of arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia. Monitoring vital signs every 8 hours is far too infrequent for a child in DKA; vital signs should be checked at least every 1 to 2 hours given the hemodynamic instability associated with the condition. Implementing fluid restrictions is incorrect because DKA causes significant dehydration, and aggressive IV fluid resuscitation with isotonic saline is a cornerstone of treatment. Administering subcutaneous insulin 30 minutes before meals is inappropriate in the acute DKA setting; treatment requires a continuous IV insulin infusion to gradually correct metabolic acidosis and hyperglycemia in a controlled, titratable manner.