What should a nurse teach a client with heart failure taking furosemide about dietary adjustments?

The appropriate guidance for a client with heart failure who is taking furosemide involves educating them on the importance of increasing their intake of high-potassium foods. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes the excretion of sodium and water through urine, but it can also lead to potassium depletion. This loss can result in hypokalemia, which can cause serious complications, including arrhythmias. Therefore, increasing dietary potassium is crucial to help counteract this effect and maintain normal potassium levels in the body.

Common high-potassium foods include bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach, and avocados. Incorporating these into the diet can help the client manage their potassium levels more effectively while on furosemide.

While limiting sodium intake is also critical for managing heart failure, the primary focus in this context is on the potential potassium loss caused by the medication. Advice on sodium reduction typically includes moderate restrictions to avoid exacerbating fluid retention, but that was not the focal point of the question.