Final answer:
To encourage a confused patient to drink more fluids, a nurse should explain the need for fluid intake, regularly offer drinks, and leave a pitcher of water within easy reach. For severe dehydration, intravenous isotonic saline may be administered to correct the imbalance.
Step-by-step explanation:
To encourage a confused patient to drink more fluid, a nurse should consider implementing several strategies to overcome the barriers the patient might be facing. Firstly, serving fluid at a tepid temperature might not be as effective since the temperature may not be appealing to the patient.
However, explaining the reason for the desired intake could be beneficial if the patient can understand and retain the information, but it might be less effective for a confused patient. Additionally, offering the patient something to drink every hour is a proactive approach to ensure they are consistently reminded to hydrate. Lastly, leaving a pitcher of water at the patient's bedside makes it easily accessible for them to drink whenever they may feel the need to.
For a dehydrated patient, oral intake may not suffice, and intravenous fluids like an ordinary NaCl solution, typically isotonic saline, or in some cases, a mixture including Na lactate, may be necessary to correct dehydration. It's important to note that while providing fluids, monitoring the patient's intake, and looking out for signs of improved hydration are crucial steps in caring for a confused patient.