Question

An older client with a long history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and heart failure arrives in the ED with respiratory distress. The healthcare provider prescribes furosemide IV. Which therapeutic response to furosemide should the nurse expect with the acute HR?

Answer 1

A nurse should expect furosemide to reduce fluid overload in a patient with heart failure by inhibiting sodium and chloride reabsorption in the kidneys, leading to increased urine output and alleviated respiratory distress. Monitoring is essential to avoid hypotension and electrolyte imbalances.

Step-by-step explanation:

Therapeutic Response to Furosemide

The therapeutic response a nurse should expect when administering intravenous furosemide to an older patient presenting with respiratory distress due to acute heart failure is the reduction of fluid overload. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that acts on the ascending limb of the loop of Henle in the kidneys to inhibit the reabsorption of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions. This action increases urine production, leading to a decrease in fluid volume within the body, which can alleviate symptoms associated with heart failure such as pulmonary edema and respiratory distress. The reduction in fluid volume also helps to lower blood pressure, improving circulation and cardiac output.

As with all medications, it is critical to monitor the patient's response to furosemide, especially because it can lead to hypotension and electrolyte imbalances. In the case described, the use of furosemide is aimed at managing symptoms associated with excessive fluid buildup due to heart failure and not hypotension. Confusion and thirst could be symptoms of the patient's underlying conditions or the result of diuretic-induced dehydration and electrolyte depletion.