Chapter 40: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance

A nurse is performing a venipuncture on an older client. The client has visible veins that appear to roll. What nursing technique is most appropriate?

Avoid use of a tourniquet.

How is control over the extracellular concentration of potassium within the human body is exerted?

aldosterone.

The nurse is working with a colleague and observes the colleague changing the bag of a client's IV solution as pictured above. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

Encourage the colleague to hang the bag on the IV pole before spiking it.

The nurse is preparing to initiate an infusion of packed red blood cells (PRBCs). While observing the information on the blood bag, it is essential to verify which information with another nurse? Select all that apply.

Number on the client's identification band Name on the client's identification band

The nurse is administering intravenous (IV) therapy to a client. The nurse notices acute tenderness, redness, warmth, and slight edema of the vein above the insertion site. Which complication related to IV therapy should the nurse most suspect?

Phlebitis

During a blood transfusion of a client, the nurse observes the appearance of rash and flushing in the client, although the vital signs are stable. Which intervention should the nurse perform for this client first?

Stop the transfusion immediately.

The oncoming nurse is assigned to the following clients. Which client should the nurse assess first?

a newly admitted 88-year-old with a 2-day history of vomiting and loose stools

Potassium is needed for neural, muscle, and:

cardiac function.

Which is a common anion?

chloride

A client who is NPO prior to surgery reports feeling thirsty. What is the physiologic process that drives the thirst factor?

decreased blood volume and intracellular dehydration

The nurse is teaching a nursing student how to record strict I&O for a client who wears adult absorbent undergarments. Which nursing teaching is appropriate?

"Weigh the wet undergarment, subtract the weight of a similar dry item, and fluid loss is based on the equivalent of 1 lb (0.47 kg) = 1 pint (475 mL)."

Which nursing diagnosis would the nurse make based on the effects of fluid and electrolyte imbalance on human functioning?

Acute Confusion related to cerebral edema

A home care nurse is teaching a client and family about the importance of a balanced diet. The nurse determines that the education was successful when the client identifies which of the following as a rich source of potassium?

Apricots

The nurse is teaching a healthy adult client about adequate hydration. How much average daily intake does the nurse recommend?

2,500 mL/day

A nurse is assessing the central venous pressure of a client who has a fluid imbalance. Which reading would the nurse interpret as suggesting an ECF volume deficit?

3.5 cm H2O

A physician has asked the nurse to use microdrip tubing to administer a prescribed dosage of IV solution to a client. What is the standard drop factor of microdrip tubing?

60 drops/mL

The nurse is calculating an infusion rate for the following order: Infuse 1,000 mL of 0.9% NaCl over 12 hours using an electronic infusion device. What is the infusion rate?

83 mL/hr

A client with stage III breast cancer has been prescribed 10 weeks of chemotherapy. Which intravenous (IV) access does the nurse anticipate will be needed?

Groshong catheter tunneled into the subclavian vein

As observed the nurse changing a peripheral venous access site dressing is demonstrating inappropriate technique by implementing which action?

Not wearing gloves when performing the intervention

An older adult has fluid volume deficit and needs to consume more fluids. Which approach by the nurse demonstrates gerontologic considerations?

Offer small amounts of preferred beverage frequently.

The nurse is responding to a client's call light. The client states, "I was getting out of bed and caught my IV on the siderail. I think I may have pulled it out." The nurse determines that the intravenous (IV) catheter has been almost completely pulled out of the insertion site. Which action is most appropriate?

Remove the IV catheter and reinsert another in a different location.

A client has been receiving intravenous (IV) fluids that contain potassium. The IV site is red and there is a red streak along the vein that is painful to the client. What is the priority nursing action?

Remove the IV.

A nurse who has diagnosed a client as having "fluid volume excess" related to compromised regulatory mechanism (kidneys) may have been alerted by what symptom?

distended neck veins

Edema happens when there is which fluid volume imbalance?

extracellular fluid volume excess

The nurse is caring for a client with metabolic alkalosis whose breathing rate is 8 breaths/min. Which arterial blood gas data does the nurse anticipate finding?

pH: 7.60; PaCO2: 64 mm Hg (8.51 kPa); HCO3: 42 mEq/l (42 mmol/l)

A student nurse is selecting a venipuncture site for an adult client. Which action by the student would cause the nurse to intervene?

placing the tourniquet on the upper arm for 2 minutes

A decrease in arterial blood pressure will result in the release of:

renin.

A nurse is preparing the site for insertion of a peripheral venous catheter using chlorhexidine. Which actions would be appropriate for the nurse to do? Select all that apply.

rub in a side to side motion use a back and forth motion

The primary extracellular electrolytes are:

sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate.

An intravenous hypertonic solution containing dextrose, proteins, vitamins, and minerals is known as:

total parenteral nutrition.

A client has been diagnosed with a gastrointestinal bleed and the health care provider has ordered a transfusion. At what rate should the nurse administer the client's packed red blood cells?

1 unit over 2 to 3 hours, no longer than 4 hours

A nurse is required to initiate IV therapy for a client. Which should the nurse consider before starting the IV?

Ensure that the prescribed solution is clear and transparent.

The nurse is caring for a client who will be undergoing surgery in several weeks. The client states, "I would like to give my own blood to be used in case I need it during surgery." What is the appropriate nursing response?

"Let me refer you to the blood bank so they can provide you with information."

The nursing instructor is quizzing a group of students about fluid and electrolyte balance. Which statements made by the students indicate an understanding of the efforts of the organs to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance? Select all that apply.

"The kidneys regulate extracellular fluid volume by retention and excretion of body fluids." "The kidneys regulate pH of extracellular fluid by excreting and retaining hydrogen ions." The adrenal glands regulate blood volume by secreting aldosterone." "The nervous system regulates oral intake by sensing intracellular dehydration, which in turn stimulates thirst."

A client with a diagnosis of colon cancer has opted for a treatment plan that will include several rounds of chemotherapy. What vascular access device is most likely to meet this client's needs?

An implanted central venous access device (CVAD)

A client's most recent blood work indicates a K+ level of 7.2 mEq/L (7.2 mmol/L), a finding that constitutes hyperkalemia. For what signs and symptoms should the nurse vigilantly monitor?

cardiac irregularities

A nurse is reviewing the client's serum electrolyte levels which are as follows:Sodium: 138 mEq/L (138 mmol/L)Potassium: 3.2 mEq/L (3.2 mmol/L)Calcium: 10.0 mg/dL (2.5 mmol/L)Magnesium: 2.0 mEq/L (1.0 mmol/L)Chloride: 100 mEq/L (100 mmol/L)Phosphate: 4.5 mg/dL (2.6 mEq/L) Based on these levels, the nurse would identify which imbalance?

hypokalemia

A client age 80 years, who takes diuretics for management of hypertension, informs the nurse that she takes laxatives daily to promote bowel movements. The nurse assesses the client for possible symptoms of:

hypokalemia.

A woman aged 58 years is suffering from food poisoning after eating at a local restaurant. She has had nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for the past 12 hours. Her blood pressure is 88/50 and she is diaphoretic. She requires:

replacement of fluids for those lost from vomiting and diarrhea.

A nurse is reviewing the dietary intake of a client prescribed a potassium-sparing diuretic. The client tells the nurse that he had a banana, yogurt, and bran cereal for breakfast and a turkey sandwich with a glass of milk for lunch. The intake of which food would be a cause for concern?

Banana