Question

An adult male client admitted to the hospital with shock has received fluid volume replacement. The nurse should determine that the client has had adequate fluid resuscitation if the client's repeat hematocrit level has decreased to which value in the normal range?

a) 30%
b) 35%
c) 40%
d) 45%

Answer 1

In a male patient, if the hematocrit level has decreased to 40%, it indicates adequate fluid resuscitation with a plasma percentage of approximately 60%.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is c) 40%. In a normal hematocrit value range for males, which is 42-52%, a decrease to 40% would indicate adequate fluid resuscitation. Hematocrit represents the percentage of red blood cells in the blood sample, so a decrease in hematocrit signifies an increase in plasma volume. In this case, a decrease to 40% would suggest that the client's blood plasma percentage has increased to approximately 60%, which falls within the normal range of plasma percentage for males.