Final answer:
In cases of severe dehydration where intravenous access is not possible, the nurse should anticipate an order for hypodermoclysis, which is subcutaneous fluid administration. Isotonic saline solution is typically used for intravenous hydration when access is available.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a nurse is unable to secure an intravenous access site due to severe dehydration, the nurse may anticipate receiving an order from the healthcare provider for hypodermoclysis, which is a method of administering fluids to a patient subcutaneously. It is an alternative to intravenous fluid replacement and is particularly useful when intravenous access is difficult to obtain. In this situation, diuretics would not be appropriate as they would further dehydrate the patient, and oral fluid replacement may not be feasible or rapid enough to address severe dehydration. Sodium supplements might be considered if the patient has accompanying hyponatremia.
When correcting dehydration, a common intravenous solution used is an isotonic saline solution, which is often combined with sodium lactate when fluid and electrolyte loss is high in sodium and bicarbonate. In cases of severe dehydration where intravenous access is not practical, subcutaneous fluid administration is a viable alternative to provide hydration and electrolyte replenishment.