Chapter 8: Fluid and Electrolyte Management
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. A patient presents in the emergency department (ED) with fever, nausea, and
vomiting over the past 2 days. The nurse monitors for which laboratory result in this
patient?
1. Urine specific gravity of 1.040
2. Serum potassium of 4.8 mEq/L
3. Serum sodium of 135 mEq/L
4. Urine positive for glucose and ketones
____ 2. Which assessment data collected by the nurse indicate that an older adult
patient is at risk for dehydration?
1. Poor skin turgor
2. Body mass index of 20.5
3. Blood pressure of 140/98 mm Hg
4. Oral intake of 48 ounces per day
____ 3. The nurse plans care for a hospitalized patient. Which data necessitate the
inclusion of interventions to address a fluid volume deficit?
1. Urine output of 30 mL/hour
2. Heart rate of 110 bpm
3. Weight gain of 10 pounds in 3 days
4. Plus-3 edema in bilateral lower extremities
____ 4. In reviewing laboratory results for a female patient suspected of having a fluid
imbalance, the nurse correlates which laboratory value with a diagnosis of
dehydration?
1. Hemoglobin of 10.5 g/dL
2. Hematocrit 49%
3. Serum potassium 3.8 mEq/L
4. Serum osmolality 230 mOsm/kg
____ 5. The nurse is analyzing the intake and output record for a patient being treated
for dehydration. The patient weighs 176 lbs and had a 24-hour intake of 2,000 mL and
urine output of 1,200 mL. Based on this data, which conclusion by the nurse is the
most appropriate?
,1. Treatment has not been effective.
2. Treatment needs to include a diuretic.
3. Treatment is effective and should continue.
4. Treatment has been effective and should end.
____ 6. The nurse provides care to a patient who is prescribed 0.45% normal saline
(NS) by intravenous (IV) infusion. Which data cause the nurse to question the
healthcare provider regarding this IV fluid order?
1. Urine output 40 mL/hour
2. Blood pressure 100/60 mm Hg
3. Respiratory rate 12 breaths/min
4. Serum sodium level of 145 mEq/L
____ 7. The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving intravenous fluids
postoperatively after cardiac surgery. The nurse correlates the patient’s risk for fluid
volume excess to which cause?
1. Decreased mobility as a result of surgery and pain
2. Administration of intravenous fluids
3. Decreased levels of aldosterone
4. Increased levels of antidiuretic hormone
____ 8. The nurse is planning care for the patient with acute renal failure and
incorporates the nursing diagnosis of Excess Fluid Volume. Which assessment data
support this nursing diagnosis?
1. Wheezing in the lungs
2. Generalized weakness
3. Urine output of 20 mL/hour
4. Pitting edema in the lower extremities
____ 9. The nurse is providing care to an older adult patient who is receiving
intravenous (IV) fluids at 150 mL/hour. It is important that the nurse assess for which
clinical manifestations that could indicate fluid volume excess in this patient?
1. Flattened neck veins
2. Elevated blood pressure
3. Bradycardia
4. Skin tenting
, ____ 10. The nurse provides care to a patient whose serum potassium level is 3.2
mEq/L. Which healthcare provider order does the nurse question based on this data?
1. Serum chemistries (basic metabolic panel) every morning
2. Continuous cardiac monitoring
3. 10 mEq KCl (potassium chloride) in 100 mL normal saline slow IVP (intravenous
pyelogram)
4. 25 mg spironolactone (Aldactone) by mouth daily
____ 11. In reviewing laboratory results for a patient presenting to the Emergency
Department with changes in level of consciousness, the nurse correlates which value
as placing the patient at greatest risk for seizures?
1. Serum calcium of 12 mg/dL
2. Serum potassium of 3.0 mEq/L
3. Serum sodium of 135 mEq/L
4. Serum magnesium of 2.6 mEq/L
____ 12. The nurse is providing care to a patient who seeks emergency treatment for
headache and nausea. The patient works in a mill without air conditioning. The patient
states, “I drink water several times each day, but I seem to sweat more than I am able
to replace.” Which suggestions does the nurse provide to this patient?
1. Drink juices and carbonated sodas.
2. Eat something salty when drinking water.
3. Eat something sweet when drinking water.
4. Double the amount of water being ingested.
____ 13. A nurse is reviewing the serum chemistry results on a patient who has a
nasogastric tube to low intermittent suction secondary to a gunshot to the abdomen 2
days ago. Which electrolyte value does the nurse correlate to the NG suctioning?
1. Serum chloride of 90 mEq/L
2. Serum sodium of 148 mEq/L
3. Serum potassium of 5.2 mEq/L
4. Serum calcium of 11.3 mg/dL
____ 14. The nurse is caring for a patient with congestive heart failure who is
admitted to the medical-surgical unit with acute hypokalemia. Which prescribed
medication may have contributed to the patient’s current hypokalemic state?
1. Cortisol
2. Oxycodone
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. A patient presents in the emergency department (ED) with fever, nausea, and
vomiting over the past 2 days. The nurse monitors for which laboratory result in this
patient?
1. Urine specific gravity of 1.040
2. Serum potassium of 4.8 mEq/L
3. Serum sodium of 135 mEq/L
4. Urine positive for glucose and ketones
____ 2. Which assessment data collected by the nurse indicate that an older adult
patient is at risk for dehydration?
1. Poor skin turgor
2. Body mass index of 20.5
3. Blood pressure of 140/98 mm Hg
4. Oral intake of 48 ounces per day
____ 3. The nurse plans care for a hospitalized patient. Which data necessitate the
inclusion of interventions to address a fluid volume deficit?
1. Urine output of 30 mL/hour
2. Heart rate of 110 bpm
3. Weight gain of 10 pounds in 3 days
4. Plus-3 edema in bilateral lower extremities
____ 4. In reviewing laboratory results for a female patient suspected of having a fluid
imbalance, the nurse correlates which laboratory value with a diagnosis of
dehydration?
1. Hemoglobin of 10.5 g/dL
2. Hematocrit 49%
3. Serum potassium 3.8 mEq/L
4. Serum osmolality 230 mOsm/kg
____ 5. The nurse is analyzing the intake and output record for a patient being treated
for dehydration. The patient weighs 176 lbs and had a 24-hour intake of 2,000 mL and
urine output of 1,200 mL. Based on this data, which conclusion by the nurse is the
most appropriate?
,1. Treatment has not been effective.
2. Treatment needs to include a diuretic.
3. Treatment is effective and should continue.
4. Treatment has been effective and should end.
____ 6. The nurse provides care to a patient who is prescribed 0.45% normal saline
(NS) by intravenous (IV) infusion. Which data cause the nurse to question the
healthcare provider regarding this IV fluid order?
1. Urine output 40 mL/hour
2. Blood pressure 100/60 mm Hg
3. Respiratory rate 12 breaths/min
4. Serum sodium level of 145 mEq/L
____ 7. The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving intravenous fluids
postoperatively after cardiac surgery. The nurse correlates the patient’s risk for fluid
volume excess to which cause?
1. Decreased mobility as a result of surgery and pain
2. Administration of intravenous fluids
3. Decreased levels of aldosterone
4. Increased levels of antidiuretic hormone
____ 8. The nurse is planning care for the patient with acute renal failure and
incorporates the nursing diagnosis of Excess Fluid Volume. Which assessment data
support this nursing diagnosis?
1. Wheezing in the lungs
2. Generalized weakness
3. Urine output of 20 mL/hour
4. Pitting edema in the lower extremities
____ 9. The nurse is providing care to an older adult patient who is receiving
intravenous (IV) fluids at 150 mL/hour. It is important that the nurse assess for which
clinical manifestations that could indicate fluid volume excess in this patient?
1. Flattened neck veins
2. Elevated blood pressure
3. Bradycardia
4. Skin tenting
, ____ 10. The nurse provides care to a patient whose serum potassium level is 3.2
mEq/L. Which healthcare provider order does the nurse question based on this data?
1. Serum chemistries (basic metabolic panel) every morning
2. Continuous cardiac monitoring
3. 10 mEq KCl (potassium chloride) in 100 mL normal saline slow IVP (intravenous
pyelogram)
4. 25 mg spironolactone (Aldactone) by mouth daily
____ 11. In reviewing laboratory results for a patient presenting to the Emergency
Department with changes in level of consciousness, the nurse correlates which value
as placing the patient at greatest risk for seizures?
1. Serum calcium of 12 mg/dL
2. Serum potassium of 3.0 mEq/L
3. Serum sodium of 135 mEq/L
4. Serum magnesium of 2.6 mEq/L
____ 12. The nurse is providing care to a patient who seeks emergency treatment for
headache and nausea. The patient works in a mill without air conditioning. The patient
states, “I drink water several times each day, but I seem to sweat more than I am able
to replace.” Which suggestions does the nurse provide to this patient?
1. Drink juices and carbonated sodas.
2. Eat something salty when drinking water.
3. Eat something sweet when drinking water.
4. Double the amount of water being ingested.
____ 13. A nurse is reviewing the serum chemistry results on a patient who has a
nasogastric tube to low intermittent suction secondary to a gunshot to the abdomen 2
days ago. Which electrolyte value does the nurse correlate to the NG suctioning?
1. Serum chloride of 90 mEq/L
2. Serum sodium of 148 mEq/L
3. Serum potassium of 5.2 mEq/L
4. Serum calcium of 11.3 mg/dL
____ 14. The nurse is caring for a patient with congestive heart failure who is
admitted to the medical-surgical unit with acute hypokalemia. Which prescribed
medication may have contributed to the patient’s current hypokalemic state?
1. Cortisol
2. Oxycodone
