Final answer:
A nurse monitors for CNS symptoms in a client with hypernatremia because sodium influences nerve cell membrane permeability, affecting brain function.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse monitors for central nervous system symptoms in a client with hypernatremia because sodium affects nerve cell membrane permeability. Hypernatremia, an abnormal increase in blood sodium levels, can lead to a disruption in the balance of water and sodium in the body. This imbalance can cause cells to shrink as water moves out of the cells into the extracellular fluid to balance the sodium concentration. As neurons in the brain are particularly sensitive to these changes in volume, it can result in altered mental status, seizures, and other neurological symptoms. Monitoring for CNS symptoms in hypernatremia is crucial as these symptoms can be indicators of serious and potentially life-threatening changes in brain function.
The rationale for a nurse monitoring for central nervous system symptoms in a client with hypernatremia is that sodium affects nerve cell membrane permeability. Hypernatremia is an abnormal increase in blood sodium levels, which can lead to an imbalance in the concentration of solutes within cells. This can cause an increased entry of water into cells, resulting in cell swelling, including neurons in the brain. Swelling of neurons can lead to central nervous system symptoms and potentially brain damage or death.