A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is receiving a continuous IV infusion. Which of the following findings indicates fluid volume overload?
Decreased bowel sounds
Urine output of 360 mL/12 hr
Blood pressure of 100/74 mm Hg
Distended neck veins
The Correct Answer is D
A. Decreased bowel sounds: Decreased bowel sounds are often associated with conditions like ileus, abdominal surgery, or bowel obstruction, rather than directly indicating fluid volume excess. Fluid overload typically affects the cardiovascular and respiratory systems first.
B. Urine output of 360 mL/12 hr: While this is a low urine output and could suggest dehydration or renal impairment, it is more indicative of fluid volume deficit rather than fluid volume excess. Excess fluid volume would generally be associated with adequate or increased urine output if renal function is normal.
C. Blood pressure of 100/74 mm Hg: This blood pressure reading is within normal limits for many adults and does not specifically suggest fluid overload. In cases of fluid volume excess, a client might actually exhibit elevated blood pressure due to increased circulatory volume.
D. Distended neck veins: Distended neck veins, also known as jugular venous distention, are a classic sign of fluid volume excess. They occur because increased intravascular volume causes elevated venous pressure, which becomes visible in the neck veins when the client is positioned at a 30- to 45-degree angle.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Inability to read: Difficulty reading is not a hallmark symptom of delirium. It may be associated with visual impairment, literacy issues, or chronic cognitive decline such as dementia, but delirium is primarily characterized by acute mental status changes, not isolated reading difficulties.
B. Echopraxia: Echopraxia, the involuntary imitation of another person’s movements, is typically associated with schizophrenia or other severe psychiatric disorders. It is not a defining feature of delirium, which primarily affects attention, awareness, and cognition rather than imitation behaviors.
C. Acute onset of confusion: Delirium is distinguished by a sudden, acute onset of confusion and fluctuating levels of consciousness. Clients may exhibit disorganized thinking, poor attention, and impaired awareness, which are hallmark features that help differentiate delirium from chronic conditions like dementia.
D. Aphasia: Aphasia, or loss of the ability to understand or express speech, is more commonly related to neurological injuries such as stroke. While speech may be disorganized during delirium, the specific loss of language function like aphasia is not a primary or expected feature of this acute condition.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Report the blood pressure reading to the charge nurse: While notifying the charge nurse is important, the nurse should first validate the high reading by rechecking the blood pressure. Acting on a single, unverified reading could lead to unnecessary interventions or missed opportunities for accurate assessment.
B. Administer an antihypertensive medication: Administering antihypertensive medication based solely on a report without rechecking the blood pressure could be unsafe. Verification ensures that treatment is based on accurate clinical data and prevents unnecessary medication administration.
C. Remeasure the client's blood pressure: The first action should always be to recheck an unusually high or abnormal vital sign reading to confirm its accuracy. Errors can occur during measurement, and accurate confirmation is critical before proceeding with further interventions in a client with chronic kidney failure.
D. Instruct the client to remain in bed: While keeping the client in bed can help prevent complications if severe hypertension is confirmed, it is not the priority action. Verifying the blood pressure reading must occur first to determine the appropriate course of action.
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