Question

The patient is admitted to the unit with the diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis. The patient is started on intravenous (IV) fluids and IV mannitol. Because mannitol is an osmotic diuretic, the nurse should:

a. assess the patient's hearing.
b. assess the patient's lungs.
c. decrease IV fluids once the diuretic has been administered.
d. give extra doses prior to giving radiological contrast agents.

Answer 1

When a patient is started on intravenous mannitol, a nurse should assess the patient's hearing and lungs, decrease IV fluids once the diuretic has been administered, and give extra doses prior to giving radiological contrast agents.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient is started on intravenous mannitol, which is an osmotic diuretic, the nurse should:

1. Assess the patient's hearing: Mannitol can potentially cause hearing loss, so it is important to monitor the patient's hearing during treatment.
2. Assess the patient's lungs: Mannitol can cause fluid overload, so it is important to monitor the patient's lungs for any signs of pulmonary edema.
3. Decrease IV fluids once the diuretic has been administered: Since mannitol is a diuretic, it promotes water loss. Therefore, the nurse should decrease IV fluids to avoid excessive fluid loss.
4. Give extra doses prior to giving radiological contrast agents: Mannitol can help protect the kidneys from the potential nephrotoxic effects of radiological contrast agents, so giving extra doses before administering contrast agents is beneficial for the patient.