Question

A nurse is assessing a client who received an IV fluid bolus for dehydration. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an indication of fluid volume excess?

a) Decreased blood pressure
b) Increased urine output
c) Crackles in the lungs
d) Increased thirst

Answer 1

Crackles in the lungs indicate fluid volume excess in a client who received an IV fluid bolus for dehydration. Increased blood pressure and distended neck veins are additional signs of fluid overload.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse assessing a client who received an IV fluid bolus for dehydration should identify crackles in the lungs as an indication of fluid volume excess. Crackles, or rales, are abnormal lung sounds that are indicative of fluid accumulation in the lung's air spaces. Other symptoms of fluid overload may include increased blood pressure, distended neck veins, and shortness of breath. In contrast, symptoms such as decreased blood pressure, increased urine output, and increased thirst are more commonly associated with dehydration rather than fluid volume excess. The increase of fluids in the body due to a fluid bolus can swiftly correct dehydration, but it can also lead to fluid volume excess if not carefully managed.