A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of IV fluid therapy for a client who has dehydration. Which of the following findings indicates improvement?
Decreased urine specific gravity.
Increased hematocrit level.
Decreased skin turgor.
Increased serum osmolarity.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason:
Decreased urine specific gravity indicates improvement in hydration status. Urine specific gravity is a measure of the concentration of solutes in the urine. It reflects the ability of the kidney to concentrate or dilute urine. A high urine specific gravity (>1.030) indicates concentrated urine, which can be caused by dehydration, reduced renal blood flow, or increased fluid loss. A low urine specific gravity (<1.010) indicates diluted urine, which can be caused by overhydration, diuretic use, or impaired renal function. A normal urine specific gravity ranges from 1.010 to 1.030.
Choice B reason:
Increased hematocrit level indicates worsening of dehydration. Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume. It is affected by the plasma volume and the number of red blood cells. A high hematocrit (>47% for males and >42% for females) indicates hemoconcentration, which can be caused by dehydration, polycythemia, or hypoxia. A low hematocrit (<37% for males and <32% for females) indicates hemodilution, which can be caused by overhydration, anemia, or hemorrhage. A normal hematocrit ranges from 37% to 47% for males and 32% to 42% for females.
Choice C reason:
Decreased skin turgor indicates persistent dehydration. Skin turgor is the elasticity of the skin that reflects its hydration status. It is assessed by pinching a fold of skin on the chest, abdomen, or forearm and releasing it. Normally, the skin should return to its original position in less than 3 seconds. If the skin remains elevated or takes longer to return, it indicates poor skin turgor, which can be caused by dehydration, aging, or edema.
Choice D reason:
Increased serum osmolarity indicates worsening of dehydration. Serum osmolarity is a measure of the concentration of solutes in the blood plasma. It reflects the balance between water and electrolytes in the body fluids. A high serum osmolarity (>300 mOsm/kg) indicates hyperosmolarity, which can be caused by dehydration, hypernatremia, hyperglycemia, or mannitol infusion. A low serum osmolarity (<280 mOsm/kg) indicates hypoosmolarity, which can be caused by overhydration, hyponatremia, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), or diuretic use. A normal serum osmolarity ranges from 280 to 300 mOsm/kg.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: This is incorrect because 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is an isotonic solution, not a hypotonic one. Isotonic solutions have the same concentration of solutes as blood plasma and do not cause fluid movement across the cell membrane.
Choice B reason:
This is incorrect because 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is an isotonic solution, not a hypertonic one. Hypertonic solutions have a higher concentration of solutes than blood plasma and cause fluid to move out of the cells and into the vascular space.
Choice C reason:
This is correct because 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is an isotonic solution that will expand the vascular space by adding fluid without changing the concentration of solutes. This is useful for patients with hyponatremia (low sodium level in the blood) who need to restore their fluid and electrolyte balance.
Choice D reason:
This is incorrect because 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is an isotonic solution that will expand the vascular space by adding fluid without changing the concentration of solutes. It will not have no effect on fluid movement, as it will increase the intravascular volume.
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","D"]
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Decreased thirst. This is a sign of improvement because hypernatremia causes increased thirst due to high sodium levels in the blood. Decreased thirst indicates that the fluid therapy has restored the normal balance of sodium and water in the body.
Choice B reason:
Increased urine output. This is a sign of improvement because hypernatremia can cause decreased urine output due to dehydration or kidney dysfunction. Increased urine output indicates that the fluid therapy has replenished the body's water and helped the kidneys excrete excess sodium.
Choice C reason:
Decreased serum sodium level. This is a sign of improvement because hypernatremia is defined as a serum sodium level higher than 145 mEq/L. Decreased serum sodium level indicates that the fluid therapy has diluted the blood and lowered the sodium concentration to within the normal range.
Choice D reason:
Increased level of consciousness. This is a sign of improvement because hypernatremia can cause confusion, lethargy, or coma due to the effects of high sodium levels on the brain. Increased level of consciousness indicates that the fluid therapy has improved the brain function and reduced the risk of brain injury.
Choice E reason:
Decreased edema. This is not a sign of improvement because hypernatremia does not cause edema, which is the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces. Edema is more likely to occur in conditions such as hypervolemia (excess fluid volume) or hyponatremia (low sodium levels) Decreased edema may indicate that the fluid therapy has caused fluid overload or electrolyte imbalance, which can be harmful.
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