Dehydration in Children
Dehydration in Children ( 29 Questions)
The client is unconscious and has a blood sugar of 30 mg/dL.
The nurse is preparing to start an intravenous (IV) infusion.
Which of the following IV fluids is the most appropriate for this client?
For a client with severe hypoglycemia and unconsciousness, the priority is to provide a fluid that will rapidly raise blood sugar levels. Normal saline is the appropriate choice because it does not contain dextrose and will not lower blood glucose levels further. It helps maintain blood pressure and intravascular volume.
Half normal saline (0.45% NaCl) is not the best choice for this scenario as it does not provide glucose to correct hypoglycemia. It could be used for volume resuscitation but should be combined with a glucose source for this specific client.
Lactated Ringer's is not ideal for treating hypoglycemia because it does not contain glucose. It is more suitable for patients with fluid deficits but not for rapidly correcting hypoglycemia.
D50W (50% dextrose in water) is too concentrated and could lead to rapid increases in blood sugar levels, potentially causing hyperglycemia. It is typically reserved for situations where very rapid correction of severe hypoglycemia is necessary and can be administered in a controlled manner.
D10W (10% dextrose in water) contains a lower concentration of dextrose compared to D50W, but it is still too concentrated for this scenario and may lead to overly rapid correction of hypoglycemia. Normal saline is the preferred choice because it does not contain dextrose and allows for more controlled glucose administration.
Normal saline (0.9% NaCl).
Choice A rationale:
For a client with severe hypoglycemia and unconsciousness, the priority is to provide a fluid that will rapidly raise blood sugar levels.
Normal saline is the appropriate choice because it does not contain dextrose and will not lower blood glucose levels further.
It helps maintain blood pressure and intravascular volume.
Choice B rationale:
Half normal saline (0.45% NaCl) is not the best choice for this scenario as it does not provide glucose to correct hypoglycemia.
It could be used for volume resuscitation but should be combined with a glucose source for this specific client.
Choice C rationale:
Lactated Ringer's is not ideal for treating hypoglycemia because it does not contain glucose.
It is more suitable for patients with fluid deficits but not for rapidly correcting hypoglycemia.
Choice D rationale:
D50W (50% dextrose in water) is too concentrated and could lead to rapid increases in blood sugar levels, potentially causing hyperglycemia.
It is typically reserved for situations where very rapid correction of severe hypoglycemia is necessary and can be administered in a controlled manner.
Choice E rationale:
D10W (10% dextrose in water) contains a lower concentration of dextrose compared to D50W, but it is still too concentrated for this scenario and may lead to overly rapid correction of hypoglycemia.
Normal saline is the preferred choice because it does not contain dextrose and allows for more controlled glucose administration.