Question

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory data of four clients. The nurse should identify that which of the following clients is experiencing fluid overload?

a.A client who has an albumin level of 5.5 g/dL
b.A client who has a urine specific gravity of 1.035
c.A client who has a Hct of 55%
d.A client who has a sodium level of 130 mEq/L

Answer 1

The nurse should recognize that a hematocrit level of 55% can indicate fluid overload (hypervolemia), characterized by an increased volume of fluid in the blood, different from dehydration marked by a high specific gravity and urine osmolality.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should identify that fluid overload is likely present in a client with a hematocrit (Hct) level of 55%. Normal Hct levels are about 40-50% for men and 36-48% for women; a rise in Hct levels can indicate hemoconcentration, which may occur in fluid overload when there's an excessive amount of fluid in the bloodstream. It is important to differentiate between dehydration, where specific gravity and urine osmolality would be high as the body conserves water, and fluid overload where we might see dilution of blood components as a result of excess fluid in the vascular space.

Fluid overload, or hypervolemia, can occur due to conditions such as heart failure, liver cirrhosis, renal disease, and certain treatments with steroids. It leads to an increase in hydrostatic pressure and can cause edema and other complications.