A nurse is monitoring a client who was admited with a severe burn injury and is receiving IV fluid resuscitation therapy. The nurse should identify a decrease in which of the following findings as an indication of adequate fluid replacement?
Urine output
Heart rate
Weight
Blood pressure
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A Reason: Urine output is not a finding that should decrease with adequate fluid replacement. On the contrary, urine output should increase as the fluid therapy restores the renal perfusion and function. The nurse should monitor the urine output and ensure that it is at least 0.5 mL/kg/hr for adults and 1 mL/kg/hr for children.
Choice B Reason: Heart rate is a finding that should decrease with adequate fluid replacement. A high heart rate is a sign of hypovolemia, which occurs when the burn injury causes fluid loss from the intravascular space. The nurse should monitor the heart rate and expect it to decrease as the fluid therapy replenishes the blood volume and improves the cardiac output.
Choice C Reason: Weight is not a finding that should decrease with adequate fluid replacement. On the contrary, weight may increase as the fluid therapy restores the hydration status and corrects the fluid deficit. The nurse should monitor the weight and compare it with the pre-burn weight to evaluate the fluid balance.
Choice D Reason: Blood pressure is not a finding that should decrease with adequate fluid replacement. On the contrary, blood pressure may increase as the fluid therapy restores the vascular tone and improves the tissue perfusion. The nurse should monitor the blood pressure and expect it to increase as the fluid therapy compensates for the fluid loss.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because clamping the client's chest tube can cause a tension pneumothorax, which is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate intervention.
Choice B Reason: This is incorrect because increasing the client's wall suction can cause excessive negative pressure in the pleural space, which can damage the lung tissue and impair ventilation.
Choice C Reason: This is correct because repositioning the client can help relieve chest burning, which may be caused by irritation of the intercostal nerves by the chest tube or by air trapping in the pleural space.
Choice D Reason: This is incorrect because stripping the client's chest tube can create high negative pressure in the pleural space, which can damage the lung tissue and impair ventilation.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason: This choice is incorrect because slowing the rate to 50 mL/hr may not be enough to prevent cerebral edema, which is a common complication of head injury. Cerebral edema is a swelling of the brain tissue due to increased fluid accumulation. It can cause increased intracranial pressure (ICP), which can lead to brain damage or death. Therefore, the nurse should limit the fluid intake of the client with head injury to avoid worsening the condition.
Choice B Reason: This choice is incorrect because increasing the rate to 250 mL/hr may cause fluid overload, which can also increase the ICP and worsen the cerebral edema. Fluid overload is a condition in which the body has too much fluid, which can impair the function of the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Therefore, the nurse should avoid giving too much fluid to the client with head injury.
Choice C reason: Reducing the infusion to 20 mL/hr is excessively low and may cause hypotension or inadequate maintenance of vascular access and medication delivery. Such a drastic decrease could impair perfusion to injured brain tissue and is not an appropriate independent nursing action without a specific order.
Choice D reason: Maintaining the current prescribed infusion rate avoids abrupt volume shifts that could alter intracranial pressure. The nurse should monitor neurologic status and vital signs, ensure the IV is patent, and follow provider orders; only change the rate when clinically indicated or when directed by the prescriber.
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