Question

Complete the following fluid balance chart by calculating if the

patient has gained or lost fluid over a 24hour period. If the
patient has gained fluid you should include "+" before your balance
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Answer 1

To determine if a patient has gained or lost fluid, subtract the total output from the total input on the fluid balance chart. A positive result indicates fluid gain, while a negative result indicates fluid loss. Remember to include a '+' sign for a positive balance.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate whether a patient has gained or lost fluid over a 24-hour period on a fluid balance chart, you need to subtract the total output (such as urine, vomit, stools, etc.) from the total input (such as oral intake, intravenous fluids, etc.). If the resulting number is positive, the patient has gained fluid. If the number is negative, the patient has lost fluid. Ensure you include a '+' sign before the balance answer if the patient has gained fluid as per the question's instruction.

For example, if a patient has an input of 2500 mL and an output of 2000 mL, the fluid balance would be +500 mL, indicating a fluid gain. Conversely, if the input is 1500 mL and the output is 2000 mL, the balance would be -500 mL, indicating a fluid loss.