Fluid Pressures/Movements (Starling's Law)

Total Questions : 5

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Question 1:

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has dehydration. Which of the following findings indicates an increase in osmolality?

Explanation

Choice A reason: Serum sodium 140 mEq/L is a normal value and does not indicate an increase in osmolality. Osmolality is the concentration of dissolved particles in a fluid. Sodium is one of the main electrolytes that affect osmolality, but a normal sodium level does not necessarily mean a normal osmolality.

Choice B reason:

Serum potassium 4.0 mEq/L is also a normal value and does not indicate an increase in osmolality. Potassium is another electrolyte that affects osmolality, but it has a smaller effect than sodium. A normal potassium level does not necessarily mean a normal osmolality.

Choice C reason:

Serum glucose 90 mg/dL is also a normal value and does not indicate an increase in osmolality. Glucose is another substance that affects osmolality, but it has a smaller effect than electrolytes. A normal glucose level does not necessarily mean a normal osmolality.

Choice D reason:

Serum urea nitrogen 25 mg/dL is an elevated value and indicates an increase in osmolality. Urea nitrogen is a waste product of protein metabolism that is excreted by the kidneys. Urea nitrogen is one of the main substances that affect osmolality, along with sodium and glucose. An elevated urea nitrogen level means that the blood is more concentrated and has less water. This can be caused by dehydration, which is a common condition in clients who have dehydration. Dehydration leads to an increase in serum osmolality and activation of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which results in urinary concentration. Therefore, choice D is the correct answer.


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Question 2:

A nurse is caring for a client who has a severe burn injury and is receiving intravenous fluid replacement therapy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to monitor fluid shifts in this client? (Select all that apply.)

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Measure intake and output. This is a correct action because it helps to monitor the fluid balance and renal function of the client who has a severe burn injury and is receiving intravenous fluid replacement therapy. Fluid shifts can cause hypovolemia, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and renal failure in burn patients. Measuring intake and output can help to detect these complications and adjust the fluid therapy accordingly.

Choice B reason:

Assess skin turgor. This is an incorrect action because it is not a reliable indicator of fluid status in burn patients. Burn injuries can damage the skin and alter its elasticity, making skin turgor assessment inaccurate. Other methods of assessing hydration, such as mucous membranes, capillary refill, and urine specific gravity, are more appropriate for burn patients.

Choice C reason:

Check blood pressure. This is a correct action because it helps to monitor the hemodynamic status and perfusion of the client who has a severe burn injury and is receiving intravenous fluid replacement therapy. Fluid shifts can cause hypotension, shock, and organ damage in burn patients. Checking blood pressure can help to detect these complications and adjust the fluid therapy accordingly.

Choice D reason:

Weigh the client daily. This is a correct action because it helps to monitor the fluid balance and nutritional status of the client who has a severe burn injury and is receiving intravenous fluid replacement therapy. Fluid shifts can cause weight changes, edema, and protein loss in burn patients. Weighing the client daily can help to detect these complications and adjust the fluid therapy accordingly.

Choice E reason:

Monitor serum albumin levels. This is a correct action because it helps to monitor the fluid balance and protein status of the client who has a severe burn injury and is receiving intravenous fluid replacement therapy. Fluid shifts can cause hypoalbuminemia, which can lead to edema, decreased oncotic pressure, and impaired wound healing in burn patients. Monitoring serum albumin levels can help to detect this complication and adjust the fluid therapy accordingly.


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Question 3:

A nurse is teaching a client who has heart failure about the importance of limiting sodium intake. The client asks, "How does sodium affect my condition?” Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Sodium attracts water and increases the fluid volume in your blood vessels. This is the correct answer because sodium is an electrolyte that helps regulate the balance of fluids in the body. When there is too much sodium in the blood, it draws water from the cells and tissues into the blood vessels, increasing the blood volume and pressure. This puts extra strain on the heart and can worsen heart failure symptoms.

Choice B reason:

Sodium causes water to move out of your cells and into your urine. This is incorrect because sodium does not cause water to move out of the cells and into the urine. In fact, sodium can cause water retention by stimulating the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which reduces urine output and increases blood volume.

Choice C reason:

Sodium stimulates your kidneys to retain water and decrease urine output. This is incorrect because sodium does not directly stimulate the kidneys to retain water and decrease urine output. However, sodium can indirectly affect the kidney function by increasing the blood volume and pressure, which can damage the kidney cells and impair their ability to filter waste and excess fluid from the body.

Choice D reason:

Sodium interferes with the action of your heart medications. This is incorrect because sodium does not interfere with the action of your heart medications. However, some heart medications, such as diuretics, can cause sodium loss in the urine, which can lead to low blood sodium levels (hyponatremia) This can cause symptoms such as confusion, weakness, nausea, and muscle cramps. Therefore, it is important to monitor your sodium intake and blood levels while taking heart medications.


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Question 4:

A nurse is preparing to administer intravenous fluids to a client who has hypovolemia due to vomiting and diarrhea. The nurse should anticipate using which of the following types of solutions?

Explanation

Choice A reason:

A hypertonic solution is one that has a higher concentration of solutes than the blood plasma. Administering a hypertonic solution to a client who has hypovolemia would cause water to move out of the cells and into the blood vessels, resulting in cellular dehydration and increased blood pressure. This could worsen the client's condition and cause complications such as cerebral edema, pulmonary edema, or heart failure.

Choice B reason:

A hypotonic solution is one that has a lower concentration of solutes than the blood plasma. Administering a hypotonic solution to a client who has hypovolemia would cause water to move from the blood vessels into the cells, resulting in cellular swelling and decreased blood pressure. This could also worsen the client's condition and cause complications such as fluid overload, hyponatremia, or hemolysis.

Choice C reason:

An isotonic solution is one that has the same concentration of solutes as the blood plasma. Administering an isotonic solution to a client who has hypovolemia would help restore the fluid volume and maintain the osmotic pressure of the blood. This could improve the client's condition and prevent complications such as shock, acidosis, or organ failure. Examples of isotonic solutions are 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) and lactated Ringer's solution.

Choice D reason:

A colloid solution is one that contains large molecules that do not cross the capillary membrane. Administering a colloid solution to a client who has hypovolemia would increase the oncotic pressure of the blood and draw water from the interstitial space into the blood vessels. This could also improve the client's condition and prevent complications such as shock, acidosis, or organ failure. Examples of colloid solutions are albumin, dextran, and hetastarch.


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Question 5:

A nurse is assessing a client who has fluid overload. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Increased hematocrit is not a finding of fluid overload, but rather of dehydration. Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the blood volume. When the blood volume decreases due to fluid loss, the hematocrit increases.

Choice B reason:

Decreased heart rate is not a finding of fluid overload, but rather of fluid deficit. When the blood volume increases due to fluid retention, the heart rate increases to maintain cardiac output.

Choice C reason:

Crackles in the lungs are a finding of fluid overload. Crackles are caused by fluid accumulation in the alveoli, which interferes with gas exchange and produces a crackling sound on auscultation.

Choice D reason:

Sunken eyeballs are not a finding of fluid overload, but rather of dehydration. Sunken eyeballs are caused by loss of subcutaneous fat and tissue turgor due to fluid loss. Some additional sentences are.


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