A nurse is assessing a client who has heart failure and is taking furosemide. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing fluid volume deficit?
Weight gain
Distended neck veins
Shortness of breath
Elevated hematocrit level
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A Reason:
Weight gain is incorrect. Weight gain is typically associated with fluid volume excess rather than deficit. In heart failure, fluid retention can lead to weight gain due to excess fluid accumulation in the body.
Choice B Reason:
Distended neck veins is incorrect. Distended neck veins are a sign of fluid volume excess, commonly seen in heart failure due to increased venous pressure and fluid retention.
Choice C Reason:
Shortness of breath is incorrect.: Shortness of breath is often associated with fluid accumulation in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema, which is a manifestation of fluid volume excess or fluid overload in heart failure.
Choice D Reason:
Elevated hematocrit level is correct. Furosemide is a diuretic that promotes diuresis (increased urine output), leading to fluid loss. When a client experiences fluid volume deficit or dehydration due to increased diuresis, there is a concentration of red blood cells in the blood, resulting in an elevated hematocrit level. This occurs because the blood becomes more concentrated when there's less fluid volume available.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Dark amber urine is incorrect. Dark urine can indicate concentrated urine, often seen in dehydration when the body is trying to conserve water.
Choice B Reason:
Decreased skin turgor is incorrect. Decreased skin turgor is a classic sign of dehydration, indicating that the skin lacks elasticity due to insufficient fluid intake or loss.
Choice C Reason:
Pink, frothy sputum is correct. Normal saline is a common intravenous solution used to treat dehydration. However, in some cases, especially when administered in excessive amounts, it can lead to fluid overload or pulmonary edema. This can manifest as pink, frothy sputum, indicating potential pulmonary congestion or edema, which is a serious adverse effect of fluid overload.
Choice D Reason:
Increased bowel sounds is incorrect. Increased bowel sounds can be seen in various conditions, including gastrointestinal disturbances or hyperactive bowel motility, but it's not typically associated with the adverse effects of normal saline administration.

Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Oxygen saturation within this range is generally considered adequate and might not directly correlate with the administration of albumin.
Choice B Reason:
Decrease in protein is incorrect. Albumin infusions are meant to supplement protein levels in the blood, so a decrease in protein wouldn't be an expected finding.
Choice C Reason:
Increase in blood pressure is correct. Albumin infusions can potentially help increase blood volume, leading to an increase in blood pressure. In shock, where there's a significant decrease in blood pressure due to reduced circulating volume, administering albumin or other intravenous fluids can help restore blood volume and consequently raise blood pressure towards a more stable range.
Choice D Reason:
PaCO2 of 30 mm Hg is incorrect. PaCO2 levels are related to respiratory function and the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood. While shock can impact various physiological parameters, a PaCO2 level of 30 mm Hg alone might not be directly tied to the administration of albumin in shock.

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