A nurse is teaching a class about administering IV fluids to treat dehydration. The nurse should include in the teaching that which of the following laboratory values indicates effective treatment of dehydration?
Urine specific gravity 1.020
BUN 28 mg/dl
Serum hematocrit 55%
Serum osmolarity 310 mOsm
The Correct Answer is D
A. Urine specific gravity 1.020: While this value indicates concentrated urine and can be useful in assessing dehydration, it doesn’t specifically confirm effective treatment. High urine specific gravity suggests dehydration because the kidneys are conserving water, but it doesn’t directly confirm the effectiveness of treatment.
B. BUN 28 mg/dl (Blood Urea Nitrogen): Elevated BUN levels can be seen in dehydration, but it's not a direct marker of effective treatment. It indicates dehydration due to increased urea concentration in the blood but doesn’t confirm if the treatment has been effective or not.
C. Serum hematocrit 55%: In dehydration, the blood becomes more concentrated due to water loss, causing an increase in hematocrit levels. However, while this value might indicate dehydration initially, it may not specifically confirm the effectiveness of treatment once initiated.
D. Serum osmolarity 310 mOsm: Serum osmolarity measures the concentration of particles in the blood. In dehydration, the blood becomes more concentrated, leading to increased serum osmolarity. When treatment is effective, rehydration occurs, diluting the blood and bringing serum osmolarity back toward normal levels. Therefore, a decrease in serum osmolarity towards the normal range (280-300 mOsm) would indicate effective treatment of dehydration
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["20"]
Explanation
Step 1: Convert Weight to Kilograms
- 1 lb = 0.4536 kg
- 132 lb × 0.4536 kg/lb = 59.87 kg
Step 2: Calculate Total Dose of Acyclovir
- Prescribed dose = 10 mg/kg
- Total dose = 59.87 kg × 10 mg/kg = 598.75 mg
Step 3: Determine the Volume of Injectable Solution
- Acyclovir IV concentration = 30 mg/mL
- Volume = 598.75 mg ÷ 30 mg/mL = 19.96 mL
The nurse should administer 20 mL (rounded to the nearest whole number) of acyclovir IV injectable solution.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Stroke volume: While stroke volume is an important parameter in assessing cardiac function, it may not directly guide the titration of nitroprusside infusion. Blood pressure is a more immediate indicator of the drug's effect on vasodilation.
B. Urine output: Nitroprusside primarily affects the vascular system and is not directly associated with urine output. Monitoring urine output is crucial in assessing renal function, but it is not the primary parameter for titrating a nitroprusside infusion.
C. Blood pressure (Correct Answer): Nitroprusside acts as a direct vasodilator, and its primary effect is on blood vessels, leading to a reduction in blood pressure. Therefore, monitoring blood pressure is essential to titrate the infusion to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
D. Cardiac output: While nitroprusside's vasodilatory effect may influence cardiac output indirectly, blood pressure is a more immediate and specific parameter to guide the titration of the infusion. Nitroprusside is often titrated to reach a target blood pressure range in hypertensive emergencies.
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