A patient has been admitted to the postsurgical nursing unit after surgery. The health care provider has ordered the patient to have an IV of 0.9 sodium chloride. The nurse who is caring for the patient recognizes this as what type of solution?

A. This indicates a slight positive fluid balance (+100 mL), meaning the client has taken in slightly more fluids than they have excreted. This could be acceptable depending on the client's clinical condition and fluid status.

B. This indicates a negative fluid balance (-500 mL), suggesting the client has excreted more fluids than they have taken in. In some situations, such as in patients with certain conditions like edema, a negative balance might be intended.

C. This indicates a significant negative fluid balance (-1,300 mL), where the client has excreted much more fluid than they have taken in. This could indicate dehydration or fluid loss that needs to be addressed promptly.

D. This indicates a significant positive fluid balance (+2,000 mL), where the client has taken in much more fluid than they have excreted. This could indicate fluid retention, which might be acceptable in certain clinical conditions but could be problematic in others, such as in patients with congestive heart failure.

To calculate the rate at which the IV pump should be set to deliver the prescribed volume of intravenous fluids,

Divide the total volume of fluids (3,000 mL) by the number of hours over which they are to be administered (24 hours). This calculation gives you 125 mL/hr.

Therefore, the nurse should set the IV pump to deliver 125 mL of fluid per hour to meet the 24-hour requirement.