Chapter 18 Fluids and Electrolytes

Chapter 18: Fluids and Electrolytes
Cooper: Foundation of Nursing

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. What percentage of an adult’s body weight consists of water?
a. 10% to 20%
b. 30% to 40%
c. 50% to 60%
d. 70% to 80%
ANS: C
The percentage of water declines to 50% to 60% in adults.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 483 OBJ: 1
TOP: Fluids KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

2. When administering intravenous (IV) fluids, the nurse ensures that the IV fluids are infusing
as ordered to prevent dehydration in an adult. When could dehydration become lethal?
a. If the patient loses 5% of body fluid
b. If the patient loses 10% of body fluid
c. If the patient loses 15% of body fluid
d. If the patient loses 20% of body fluid
ANS: D
A loss of 20% of body fluid in an adult is fatal.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 483 OBJ: 1
TOP: Fluids KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

3. The nurse uses a diagram to show that fluids in the interstitial and intravascular compartments
are combined. What do they combine to form?
a. Intercellular compartment
b. Circulating compartment
c. Vertical compartment
d. Extracellular compartment
ANS: D
The fluids in the interstitial and intravascular compartments are combined to form the
extracellular compartment.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 483 OBJ: 1
TOP: Fluid compartments KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

4. The nurse encourages a patient who has been vomiting to drink fluids because the body fluid
lost daily must match the amount of fluid taken in to maintain homeostasis. What is the
recommended daily amount of fluid for an adult?
a. 1000 mL

, b. 1500 mL
c. 2050 mL
d. 2500 mL
ANS: D
Daily fluid intake and output is about 2200 to 2700 mL/day, and urinary output is about 1000
to 2000 mL/day.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 489 OBJ: 1
TOP: Fluids KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

5. The nurse must keep an accurate intake and output record to assess kidney efficiency. In order
for the kidneys to remove waste, what is the least amount of hourly urine output the kidneys
must produce to remove waste?
a. 10 mL
b. 20 mL
c. 30 mL
d. 40 mL
ANS: C
The kidneys must excrete a minimum of 30 mL/h to eliminate waste products.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 485 OBJ: 6
TOP: Fluids KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

6. The nurse weighs a patient at the same time of day with the same scale and same clothing.
What is this a simple and accurate method of determining?
a.An accurate weight
b.Water balance
c.Adequate nutrition
d.Urinary output
ANS: B
A simple and accurate method of determining water balance is to weigh the patient under the
same conditions each day.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 485 OBJ: 8
TOP: Fluids KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

7. When a patient takes substances into the body, they first enter the extracellular compartment.
What must the substances enter to carry out their function?
a.Horizontal compartment
b.Intracellular compartment
c.Compartmental
d.Vertical compartment
ANS: B
To carry out their function, substances must enter the cell.