During a clinical rotation on an orthopedic unit, a nursing student is caring for a 67-year-old patient who has undergone a knee replacement. The patient is complaining of pain at the IV site. The nursing student assesses the site and finds that the site is cool, blanched and slightly swollen. The student stops the IV and reports the situation to the nurse. What does the nursing student suspect?

A. A 5 mL syringe can hold up to 5 mL of fluid. It is suitable for administering 2 mL of medication, as it provides enough capacity with some additional space to ensure accurate measurement and prevent overfilling.

B. A 1 mL syringe is too small for administering a 2 mL injection. It would not accommodate the entire volume, and attempting to draw and administer 2 mL with a 1 mL syringe could result in spillage or inaccurate dosing.

C. A 10 mL syringe is larger than necessary for administering a 2 mL injection. While it can hold the required volume and more, it is bulkier and might be less convenient for administering smaller volumes like 2 mL.

D. A 3 mL syringe can also accommodate a 2 mL injection. However, a 5 mL syringe would provide a more appropriate capacity with a bit of extra space, which can be beneficial for accurate measurement and ease of administration.

C. Dextrose 5% in water is a hypotonic solution that contains 5 grams of dextrose in each 100 mL of water. It provides free water without adding significant sodium, which helps to dilute the elevated sodium levels in hypernatremia. This solution is effective in correcting hypernatremia by promoting water movement from the intravascular space into the cells and extracellular space.

A. Albumin solutions are primarily used for volume expansion and to increase oncotic pressure in conditions like hypoalbuminemia or shock. They do not provide free water and are not typically used for treating hypernatremia.

B. Dextrose 10% in water is a hypertonic solution used primarily for providing calories and treating hypoglycemia. It does not correct hypernatremia because it does not significantly affect sodium levels or provide sufficient free water to dilute sodium.

D. Dextran 40 is a colloid solution that is used for volume expansion in hypovolemia or shock. It does not provide free water and is not indicated for correcting hypernatremia.