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The nurse is reviewing a client's urinalysis results and identifies a specific gravity of 1.035. Which action should the nurse implement based on this finding?

a. Explain that the urine finding is normal.
b. Recommend the use of salt with meals.
c. Tell client to report reduced urine output less than 1,000 mL/day.
d. Instruct client to increase oral fluids to a minimum of 2,400 mL/day.

User Vidyanand
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Final answer:

The specific gravity of 1.035 suggests that the client's urine is more concentrated than normal, potentially indicating dehydration or other issues. The most appropriate nursing action is to advise the client to increase oral fluid intake to a minimum of 2,400 mL/day to dilute the urine and lower the specific gravity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse has identified a specific gravity of 1.035 in a client's urinalysis results. This value is above the normal range for urine specific gravity, which typically falls between 1.005 and 1.030. A higher specific gravity can suggest that the urine is more concentrated, which may occur in situations such as dehydration, decreased kidney function, or the presence of substances like glucose in the urine.

It would be inadvisable to explain to the client that this urine finding is normal, as the result is above the typical range. Recommending the use of salt with meals would not be appropriate without further context, particularly regarding whether or not the client has a condition that could be affected by salt intake. Telling the client to report reduced urine output is a good practice, but it is not directly related to the specific finding at hand.

The most appropriate action for the nurse to take based on this finding would be to instruct the client to increase oral fluids to a minimum of 2,400 mL/day. This advice is aimed at reducing the concentration of the urine by increasing fluid intake, hence lowering the specific gravity towards the normal range and helping to prevent potential complications associated with highly concentrated urine, such as kidney stones.

User Greg Wozniak
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