A nurse measures a patient’s 24-hour fluid intake and documents the findings. To be an accurate indicator of fluid status, what must the nurse do with the information?
Report the exact milliliter of intake to the physician’s office nurse.
Compare the total intake and output of fluids for the 24 hours.
Compare the patient’s intake with the normal range of adult fluid intake.
Ensure the information is included in the verbal end-of-shift report.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Reporting only the exact intake to the physician’s nurse is incomplete, as fluid status requires balancing intake with output. Intake alone does not indicate hydration or overload, risking misinformed decisions. Comparing intake and output provides a full picture, per fluid balance assessment principles.
Choice B reason: Comparing total intake and output over 24 hours accurately assesses fluid status, as it reveals imbalances like dehydration (output > intake) or retention (intake > output). This guides interventions, ensuring proper fluid management, aligning with physiological monitoring and clinical assessment standards.
Choice C reason: Comparing intake to a normal range is useful but insufficient without output data. Normal intake varies, and fluid status depends on balance. This approach misses output-related issues like oliguria, reducing its accuracy for assessing hydration, per fluid and electrolyte management guidelines.
Choice D reason: Including intake in verbal reports is important but does not directly assess fluid status. Comparison of intake and output is needed to evaluate balance, guiding clinical decisions. Reporting alone risks overlooking imbalances, per nursing documentation and fluid assessment protocols.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) focuses on competencies like patient safety and quality improvement, not moral standards. It guides nursing education to enhance clinical skills and patient outcomes, addressing evidence-based practice and teamwork. Moral standards, involving ethical decision-making and professional conduct, are governed by the ANA Code of Ethics, not QSEN.
Choice B reason: The American Nurses Association Standards of Professional Performance outline behaviors like leadership and collaboration but focus on professional competence, not moral standards. These standards guide performance expectations, such as resource utilization and communication, rather than ethical principles like beneficence or autonomy, which are central to the ANA Code of Ethics for moral guidance.
Choice C reason: The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics provides moral standards for nursing, emphasizing principles like beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice. It guides ethical decision-making in patient care, addressing dilemmas like informed consent and confidentiality. This code ensures nurses uphold moral integrity in professional behavior, making it the correct guide for ethical standards.
Choice D reason: The American Nurses Association Standards of Practice define the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, etc.) but focus on clinical practice standards, not moral guidelines. These standards ensure competent care delivery but do not address ethical principles like patient autonomy or ethical dilemmas, which are covered by the ANA Code of Ethics.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Florence Nightingale founded modern nursing and improved hospital sanitation but did not establish the U.S. Red Cross. Her work focused on nursing education and patient care standards, impacting healthcare systems globally. The Red Cross, a humanitarian organization, was established in the U.S. by Clara Barton, making Nightingale incorrect for this achievement.
Choice B reason: Clara Barton established the American Red Cross in 1882, providing disaster relief and wartime aid. Her work involved organizing volunteer efforts to support medical care and supplies, addressing physiological needs like wound care and nutrition during crises. Barton’s leadership formalized humanitarian aid in the U.S., making her the correct pioneer for this milestone.
Choice C reason: Dorothea Dix advocated for mental health reform and improved conditions for the mentally ill but did not found the Red Cross. Her efforts focused on institutional reforms, not disaster relief or wartime medical support. Clara Barton’s establishment of the Red Cross addressed acute humanitarian needs, making Dix incorrect for this role.
Choice D reason: Jane Addams founded Hull House and focused on social reform, not the Red Cross. Her work addressed community health and social disparities, not organized disaster or wartime relief. Clara Barton’s Red Cross provided medical and humanitarian aid, distinct from Addams’ social work, making Addams incorrect for this achievement.
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