A patient with severe hypernatremia is prescribed intravenous replacement of free water. Which principle guides the nurse's care?
Correct answer: B. Correct the sodium level gradually with frequent monitoring
- A. Correct the sodium level rapidly within one hour
- B. Correct the sodium level gradually with frequent monitoring
- C. Restrict all fluids until the sodium level normalises
- D. Give concentrated saline to remove excess sodium
Explanation
Chronic or severe hypernatremia is corrected gradually to reduce the risk of cerebral oedema. The nurse monitors neurological status and serum sodium because overly rapid correction is dangerous.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? support@testustad.com
About Nutrition, Fluids and Electrolytes
Coverage includes nutrients and balanced diets, therapeutic feeding, enteral and parenteral nutrition, intake and output, dehydration, fluid overload and fluid balance calculations. Questions also examine sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride disturbances, their signs and nursing care, while distinguishing enteral feeding through the gastrointestinal tract from parenteral nutrition.
Practise Nutrition, Fluids and Electrolytes
50 free Nutrition, Fluids and Electrolytes MCQs from Fundamentals of Nursing, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Fundamentals of Nursing questions like this
Fundamentals of Nursing is on 9 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Nutrition, Fluids and Electrolytes questions
A patient is receiving a bolus feed through a nasogastric tube. Which action best reduces the risk of aspiration?
Which finding most strongly suggests fluid volume deficit in an adult patient?
During a 12-hour shift, a patient receives 500 mL of intravenous fluid, drinks 450 mL, and receives 50 mL in tube-feeding flushes. The patient passes 600 mL of urine and loses 150 mL from a wound drain. What is the fluid balance?
A patient develops tingling around the mouth and carpopedal spasm several hours after thyroid surgery. Which action should the nurse take first?
Which assessment finding is most consistent with hypercalcemia?
A patient has a serum potassium level of 3.0 mmol/L and is prescribed intravenous potassium chloride. Which nursing action is safe?