Question

The nurse is caring for an older adult client admitted to the emergency department with suspected fluid volume excess. Which prescriptions does the nurse anticipate? Select all that apply.

a) Monitoring vital signs closely.
b) Administering diuretics.
c) Restricting fluid intake.
d) Ordering a high-sodium diet.

Answer 1

The nurse should anticipate interventions for fluid volume excess including closely monitoring vital signs, administering diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide to reduce fluid volume, and restricting fluid intake. Prescribing a high-sodium diet would not be expected.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is caring for an older adult client admitted to the emergency department with suspected fluid volume excess. The appropriate interventions the nurse should anticipate include:

• Monitoring vital signs closely to detect any changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate that may be indicative of the fluid status.
• Administering diuretics, which are medications that increase urine output to help reduce fluid volume in the body. For instance, hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that inhibits the Na/Cl symporter, leading to a loss of sodium and water from the body.
• Restricting fluid intake to prevent further fluid accumulation and worsening of the condition.

The nurse would not expect an order for a high-sodium diet because this would exacerbate the condition by promoting further fluid retention.