A client is admitted with hyponatremia.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse prioritize for this client?

This is because hyponatremia is a condition where sodium levels in your blood are lower than normal, usually due to too much water in your body that dilutes the sodium. A hypertonic saline solution is a fluid that has a higher concentration of sodium than blood, and it can help restore the normal sodium balance by drawing water out of the cells.

Choice A is wrong because restricting fluid intake may not be enough to correct severe hyponatremia, and it may worsen the symptoms of dehydration.

Choice C is wrong because encouraging increased fluid intake will further lower the sodium levels and increase the risk of complications such as brain swelling.

Choice D is wrong because administering a loop diuretic will cause more sodium and water loss from the kidneys, which can worsen hyponatremia and dehydration.

Normal ranges for blood sodium levels are between 135 and 145 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L).

Hyponatremia is defined as a blood sodium level below 135 mEq/L1.

Furosemide is a diuretic that lowers blood pressure by increasing urine output and reducing fluid volume in the body.

One of the possible adverse effects of furosemide is hypotension, which is low blood pressure.

This can cause symptoms such as dizziness, faintness, confusion, or weakness.

The nurse should monitor the client’s blood pressure and report any signs of hypotension to the doctor.

Choice A is wrong because hypertension, which is high blood pressure, is not a common side effect of furosemide.

In fact, furosemide is used to treat hypertension in some cases.

Choice B is wrong because hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar, is not a common side effect of furosemide.

Furosemide does not affect blood sugar levels directly.

However, it may interact with some medications that lower blood sugar, such as insulin or oral antidiabetic drugs.

The nurse should check the client’s medication history and monitor their blood sugar levels if they are taking any of these drugs.

Choice C is wrong because hyperkalemia, which is high potassium levels in the blood, is not a common side effect of furosemide.

Furosemide belongs to a class of diuretics called loop diuretics, which lower potassium levels by increasing its excretion in the urine.

One of the possible adverse effects of furosemide is hypokalemia, which is low potassium levels in the blood.

This can cause symptoms such as muscle cramps, weakness, irregular heartbeat, or numbness.

The nurse should monitor the client’s potassium levels and advise them to eat foods rich in potassium, such as bananas, oranges, or potatoes.

Normal ranges for blood pressure are 90/60 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg.

Normal ranges for blood sugar are 4.0 mmol/L to 7.8 mmol/L (72 mg/dL to 140 mg/dL).

Normal ranges for potassium are 3.5 mmol/L to 5.0 mmol/L (3.5 mEq/L to 5.0 mEq/L).