The nurse is providing care for a client with a fluid imbalance. The nurse explains that in the body, areas with high concentration of solutes naturally and passively shift to areas of lower concentration. The nurse is describing which process?

Choice A reason: Decreased heart rate is not a manifestation of hypovolemia. Hypovolemia is a condition where there is a decreased volume of blood in the body, which can result from blood loss, dehydration, or fluid shifts. Hypovolemia can cause the heart rate to increase, not decrease, as the body tries to compensate for the low blood pressure and maintain adequate perfusion.

Choice B reason: Increased blood pressure is not a manifestation of hypovolemia. Hypovolemia can cause the blood pressure to decrease, not increase, as the blood volume and cardiac output are reduced. The body may try to constrict the blood vessels to increase the blood pressure, but this is usually not enough to overcome the effects of hypovolemia.

Choice C reason: Weak pulse is a manifestation of hypovolemia. Hypovolemia can cause the pulse to become weak, thready, or difficult to palpate, as the blood flow and pressure are diminished. The pulse may also become irregular or rapid, as the heart tries to pump faster and harder to deliver oxygen to the tissues.

Choice D reason: Dyspnea is not a specific manifestation of hypovolemia. Dyspnea is a term for difficulty breathing, which can have many causes, such as asthma, pneumonia, or pulmonary edema. Hypovolemia can cause dyspnea if it leads to shock, which is a life-threatening condition where the organs and tissues are not receiving enough oxygen. However, dyspnea alone is not enough to indicate hypovolemia.

Choice A reason: Calling the doctor for more antiemetic medication is not the best intervention for the nurse to facilitate. Antiemetics are drugs that prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting, but they may have side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth, or constipation. The nurse should first try non-pharmacological measures to relieve the patient's nausea, such as giving small sips of water, providing a cool and quiet environment, or using aromatherapy.

Choice B reason: Giving the patient small sips of tepid water is the best intervention for the nurse to facilitate. Water can help hydrate the patient and dilute any stomach acid that may cause irritation. Tepid water is water that is slightly warm, which can be more soothing than cold or hot water. Small sips can prevent the patient from swallowing too much air, which can worsen nausea and vomiting.

Choice C reason: Helping the patient lay supine is not a good intervention for the nurse to facilitate. Supine means lying flat on the back, which can increase the risk of aspiration, or inhaling food or fluids into the lungs. Aspiration can cause pneumonia, a serious lung infection. The nurse should help the patient lay on their side, with their head elevated, to prevent aspiration and reduce pressure on the stomach.

Choice D reason: Showing the patient how to use the patient-controlled analgesia is not a relevant intervention for the nurse to facilitate. Patient-controlled analgesia is a system that allows the patient to self-administer pain medication through an IV pump. It has nothing to do with nausea and vomiting, and may even cause them as side effects. The nurse should monitor the patient's pain level and adjust the analgesia settings as needed, but not as a way to treat nausea.