A nurse is teaching a client who has pernicious anemia to self-administer nasal cyanocobalamin. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A Reason:
Weight gain is incorrect. Weight gain is typically associated with fluid volume excess rather than deficit. In heart failure, fluid retention can lead to weight gain due to excess fluid accumulation in the body.
Choice B Reason:
Distended neck veins is incorrect. Distended neck veins are a sign of fluid volume excess, commonly seen in heart failure due to increased venous pressure and fluid retention.
Choice C Reason:
Shortness of breath is incorrect.: Shortness of breath is often associated with fluid accumulation in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema, which is a manifestation of fluid volume excess or fluid overload in heart failure.
Choice D Reason:
Elevated hematocrit level is correct. Furosemide is a diuretic that promotes diuresis (increased urine output), leading to fluid loss. When a client experiences fluid volume deficit or dehydration due to increased diuresis, there is a concentration of red blood cells in the blood, resulting in an elevated hematocrit level. This occurs because the blood becomes more concentrated when there's less fluid volume available.

Choice A Reason:
Serum osmolarity 310 mOsm/L is incorrect. Serum osmolarity measures the concentration of particles in the blood. While an elevated serum osmolarity might indicate dehydration, it's not a direct indicator of the effectiveness of treatment. It signifies the concentration of solutes in the blood rather than reflecting hydration improvement after treatment.
Choice B Reason:
Serum hematocrit 55%m is incorrect. Elevated hematocrit levels can occur in dehydration because of hemoconcentration (an increase in the concentration of red blood cells due to reduced fluid volume). However, similar to serum osmolarity, while it can indicate dehydration, it doesn't specifically reflect the effectiveness of treatment.
To determine effective treatment of dehydration, the nurse should consider the laboratory values that reflect hydration status:
Choice C Reason:
Urine specific gravity 1.020 is correct. Urine specific gravity measures the concentration of solutes in the urine, indicating the kidneys' ability to concentrate urine. A higher specific gravity (typically above 1.020) suggests more concentrated urine, which can indicate dehydration. As hydration improves, the urine becomes less concentrated, so a decrease in urine specific gravity toward the normal range (around 1.010-1.020) indicates effective rehydration and improved kidney function in retaining fluids.
Choice D Reason:
BUN 28 mg/dL is incorrect. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels can also rise in dehydration due to reduced kidney perfusion. However, like serum osmolarity and hematocrit, while it can indicate dehydration, it doesn't directly show the effectiveness of treatment or the improvement in hydration status after treatment.