A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative and has an indwelling urinary catheter. Which of the following findings indicates that the client is experiencing dehydration?
BUN 15 mg/dL
Blood pressure 150/82 mm Hg
Urine specific gravity 1.010
Urine output of 20 mL/hr
The Correct Answer is D
A urine output of 20 mL/hr is considered to be low and suggests decreased fluid intake or fluid loss. In a postoperative client with an indwelling urinary catheter, a low urine output may indicate dehydration, especially if the client is not receiving adequate fluids or experiencing excessive fluid loss.
BUN 15 mg/dL: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is a laboratory value that reflects the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood and can be used to assess kidney function and hydration status. A BUN level of 15 mg/dL falls within the normal range, indicating that the client's kidneys are adequately removing urea from the blood. However, it does not provide definitive information about hydration status on its own.
Blood pressure 150/82 mm Hg: The blood pressure reading of 150/82 mm Hg does not provide specific information about hydration status. It is important to consider the client's baseline blood pressure, medical history, and other factors when interpreting blood pressure readings.
Urine specific gravity 1.010: A urine specific gravity of 1.010 falls within the normal range and does not indicate dehydration. It suggests that the concentration of solutes in the urine is within the expected range.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Prealbumin (also known as transthyretin): Prealbumin is a protein synthesized in the liver and has a shorter half-life compared to albumin. It is considered a more sensitive marker for
short-term nutritional changes and can reflect the effectiveness of TPN within a few days.
Prealbumin levels can indicate the response to nutritional interventions and provide a more immediate assessment of nutritional adequacy.
Hemoglobin: Hemoglobin is a measure of the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells and is typically used to assess anemia. While hemoglobin can be affected by nutritional status, it is not a specific marker for the short-term effectiveness of TPN.
Total albumin: Total albumin is a measure of protein status and can be affected by various factors, including inflammation and liver disease. However, it has a longer half-life and slower response to nutritional changes, so it may not be the best indicator for short-term effectiveness.
Transferrin: Transferrin is a protein involved in iron transport and can be used as an indicator of iron status. However, it may not reflect short-term changes in nutritional status and is not specific to TPN effectiveness.
Monitoring prealbumin levels can help determine the short-term effectiveness of TPN and guide adjustments to the nutritional plan.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
According to some sources, the food that contains the greatest amount of potassium among the four options is one small baked potato, with about 925 mg of potassium per serving1.
The other foods have much lower amounts of potassium: 1 oz of cheddar cheese has about 28 mg, 1 cup of brown rice has about 84 mg, and one medium raw tomato has about 290 mg.
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