At the end of shift, you are calculating intake and output on your pat lent who was admited for a non- emergent gall bladder removal. She is alert and oriented and able to recall the amount of fluid she has drank all day. You can calculate the amount of IV fluids administered. Her intake is 2500ml and her output is 1200ml from a catheter bag. You realize she is not excreting enough urine me for water she is taking in. What is the most appropriate next step to determine if she is retaining water?
Put a hat in the toilet to collect proper output.
Assess your patient’s lower extremities and lungs for fluid retention.
Educate her on the importance of writing down all fluids she is drinking.
Document the numbers anyway, there is a probable error with the intake number.
The Correct Answer is B
. Assess your patient’s lower extremities and lungs for fluid retention.
If a patient’s intake is 2500ml and her output is 1200ml from a catheter bag, and you are concerned that she may not be excreting enough urine for the amount of water she is taking in, the most appropriate next step would be to assess her lower extremities and lungs for fluid retention. This can help determine if the patient is retaining water and if further intervention is necessary.

Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Respiratory acidosis.
COPD is a chronic lung disease that can lead to an accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the body. This can cause respiratory acidosis, a condition in which the blood pH is lower than normal due to an excess of CO2.
In respiratory acidosis, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in the blood is increased and the pH is decreased. The kidneys atempt to compensate for the acidosis by excreting more acid in the urine and retaining more bicarbonate, but this compensation is usually not enough to fully correct the problem.
Metabolic alkalosis (option B) is a condition in which the blood pH is higher than normal due to an excess of bicarbonate in the blood. This is usually caused by loss of acid from the body, such as through vomiting or use of diuretics.
Respiratory alkalosis (option C) is a condition in which the blood pH is higher than normal due to a decrease in PaCO2. This can be caused by hyperventilation, which leads to excessive elimination of CO2 from the lungs.
Metabolic acidosis (option D) is a condition in which the blood pH is lower than normal due to an excess of acid in the blood. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including kidney failure or lactic acidosis.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Daily weights provide a reliable and accurate measure of fluid balance in the body. An increase in weight can indicate fluid retention and the need for further intervention. While daily intake and output recordings, blood pressure and heart rate checks, and CMP lab draws can also provide useful information, daily weights are the most effective way to monitor for excess fluid volume in this situation.

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