Chapter 32: Fluid, Electrolytes, and Acid-Base

A nursing student is teaching a healthy adult client about adequate hydration. Which statement by the client indicates understanding of adequate hydration?

"I should drink 2,500 mL/day of fluid." In healthy adults, fluid intake generally averages approximately 2,500 mL/day, but it can range from 1,800 to 3,000 mL/day with a similar volume of fluid loss.

A health care provider writes a prescription to "force fluids." What will be the first action the nurse will take in implementing this prescription?

Explain to the client why this is needed.

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. Rather than asking older adults if they would like a drink, it is important to identify their preferences and offer small amounts of their preferred liquids at frequent intervals. This intervention will assist in keeping oral mucosa moist and providing hydration needs.

When educating a client about foods that affect fluid balance, which methods should the nurse share to help the client reduce sodium and potassium intake?

Teach the client to read food labels and identify foods high in sodium and potassium.

A client has been admitted with fluid volume deficit. Which assessment data would the nurse anticipate?

blood pressure 100/48 mmHg poor skin turgor heart rate 128/bpm

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 Located within the hypothalamus, the thirst control center is stimulated by intracellular dehydration and decreased blood volume. When a client does not drink, the body begins intracellular dehydration and the client becomes thirsty. There is no extracellular dehydration.

Edema happens when there is which fluid volume imbalance?

extracellular fluid volume excess

The client is admitted to the nurse's unit with a diagnosis of heart failure. His heart is not pumping effectively, which is resulting in edema and coarse crackles in his lungs. The term for this condition is:

fluid volume excess.

Which body fluid is the fluid within the cells, constituting about 70% of the total body water?

intracellular fluid (ICF)