Question

The nurse is caring for a patient who has undergone major abdominal surgery. The nurse

notices that the patient's urine output has been less than 20 mL/hour for the past 2 hours.
The patient's blood pressure is 100/60 mm Hg, and the pulse is 110 beats/min. Previously,
the pulse was 90 beats/min with a blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg. The nurse should
a. contact the provider and expect a prescription for a normal saline bolus.
b. wait until the provider makes rounds to report the assessment findings.
c. continue to evaluate urine output for 2 more hours.
d. ignore the urine output, as this is most likely postrenal in origin.

Answer 1

The nurse should contact the provider and expect a prescription for a normal saline bolus.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should contact the provider and expect a prescription for a normal saline bolus. The patient's urine output of less than 20 mL/hour for the past 2 hours indicates decreased kidney function, also known as oliguria. This, along with the patient's decreased blood pressure and increased pulse rate, suggests possible dehydration or hypovolemia. A normal saline bolus can help restore fluid volume and improve kidney function.