A nurse is teaching a class about administering IV fluids to treat dehydration. The nurse should include in the teaching that which of the following laboratory values indicates effective treatment of dehydration?
Serum osmolarity 310 mOsm/L
Serum hematocrit 55%
Urine specific gravity 1.020
BUN 28 mg/dL
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A Reason:
Serum osmolarity 310 mOsm/L is incorrect. Serum osmolarity measures the concentration of particles in the blood. While an elevated serum osmolarity might indicate dehydration, it's not a direct indicator of the effectiveness of treatment. It signifies the concentration of solutes in the blood rather than reflecting hydration improvement after treatment.
Choice B Reason:
Serum hematocrit 55%m is incorrect. Elevated hematocrit levels can occur in dehydration because of hemoconcentration (an increase in the concentration of red blood cells due to reduced fluid volume). However, similar to serum osmolarity, while it can indicate dehydration, it doesn't specifically reflect the effectiveness of treatment.
To determine effective treatment of dehydration, the nurse should consider the laboratory values that reflect hydration status:
Choice C Reason:
Urine specific gravity 1.020 is correct. Urine specific gravity measures the concentration of solutes in the urine, indicating the kidneys' ability to concentrate urine. A higher specific gravity (typically above 1.020) suggests more concentrated urine, which can indicate dehydration. As hydration improves, the urine becomes less concentrated, so a decrease in urine specific gravity toward the normal range (around 1.010-1.020) indicates effective rehydration and improved kidney function in retaining fluids.
Choice D Reason:
BUN 28 mg/dL is incorrect. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels can also rise in dehydration due to reduced kidney perfusion. However, like serum osmolarity and hematocrit, while it can indicate dehydration, it doesn't directly show the effectiveness of treatment or the improvement in hydration status after treatment.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Regular insulin is incorrect. Regular insulin is a short-acting insulin used for managing diabetes, particularly for controlling blood sugar levels during meals. However, it's not typically the initial medication introduced in the management of metabolic syndrome with an HbA1c of 6.5%. Insulin therapy is generally considered when other medications or lifestyle changes aren't effective in controlling blood sugar levels.
Choice B Reason:
Exenatide is incorrect. Exenatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, used to manage type 2 diabetes. While it's effective in controlling blood sugar levels, it's often considered after initial treatments like metformin, especially in newly diagnosed cases or those with moderately elevated HbA1c levels.
Choice C Reason:
Insulin glargine is incorrect. Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin used in diabetes management, providing a steady level of insulin throughout the day. Like regular insulin, insulin glargine is typically considered later in the treatment plan and is not usually the first medication introduced in cases of new metabolic syndrome diagnoses with moderately elevated HbA1c levels.
Choice D Reason:
Considering the client's new diagnosis and moderately elevated HbA1c level, educating about metformin aligns with the typical first-line approach in managing blood sugar levels and metabolic syndrome in this scenario.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Increase in serum glucose is incorrect. Desmopressin, which is a synthetic form of vasopressin, primarily affects water reabsorption in the kidneys and doesn't directly impact glucose levels. Therefore, an increase in serum glucose wouldn't be an expected therapeutic response to desmopressin for diabetes insipidus.
Choice B Reason:
Decrease in blood pressure is incorrect. Desmopressin is primarily used for its antidiuretic effect, concentrating urine by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys. It typically doesn't have a significant impact on blood pressure. Therefore, a decrease in blood pressure wouldn't typically be an anticipated therapeutic response to desmopressin in this context.
Choice C Reason:
Decrease in urine output is correct. Desmopressin is a synthetic form of vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) used to treat diabetes insipidus, a condition characterized by excessive urination and extreme thirst due to the inability to concentrate urine. The primary goal of desmopressin is to reduce urine output by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys, thereby decreasing excessive urination. Therefore, a decrease in urine output would indicate a therapeutic response to the medication in this context.
Choice D Reason:
Increase in WBC count is incorrect. Desmopressin's action is centered on affecting kidney function by regulating water reabsorption and does not involve changes in white blood cell count. Consequently, an increase in WBC count wouldn't be an expected therapeutic response to desmopressin for diabetes insipidus.
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