Final answer:
The correct symptom that indicates a client is developing fluid overload during a continuous IV infusion is dyspnea. This respiratory distress is associated with hypervolemia due to the excess fluid volume in the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse assessing a client receiving a continuous IV infusion and suspects the development of fluid overload would be most concerned with dyspnea. This condition, also known as hypervolemia, is characterized by an excessive accumulation of fluid in the body. It can arise from conditions that cause water and sodium retention, such as heart failure, liver cirrhosis, certain kidney diseases, hyperaldosteronism and treatment with some glucocorticoid steroids. Indicators of fluid overload include dyspnea (difficulty breathing), edema (swelling) and potentially an increase in blood pressure due to the additional fluid volume.
Dyspnea arises because the excessive fluid in the circulatory system may begin to leak into pulmonary tissues, leading to pulmonary edema which interferes with gas exchange and causes shortness of breath. Signs such as weight loss, decreased blood pressure and hypernatremia usually indicate conditions opposite to fluid overload, such as dehydration. Therefore dyspnea is the correct answer to the question about which symptom suggests the client is developing fluid overload.