Fundamentals Chapter 42: Fluid and
Electrolytes Practice Questions
2, 5
Redness, inflammation, swelling at the catheter site coupled with purulent indicate an
infection. Cleaning the patient's skin with alcohol helps to maintain asepsis. Inserting a new
intravenous line in the other extremity helps to reduce the chance of infection. Elevating the
patient's extremity helps to reduce infiltration and extravasation. Raising the head of the
patient's bed helps to control extracellular volume excess. The application of a pressure
dressing over the injection site helps to reduce bleeding. -
A patient who is undergoing intravenous therapy develops redness,
inflammation, and swelling at the catheter site. After further assessment, the nurse finds
purulent drainage from the injection site. Which nursing interventions are useful in this
situation? Select all that apply.
1
Elevating the extremity
2
Cleaning the skin with alcohol
3
Raising the head of the patient's bed
4
Applying a pressure dressing over the site
5
Inserting a new intravenous line in another extremity
4
Magnesium controls the function of neuromuscular junctions and is a cofactor for many
enzymes. Calcium influences the excitability of nerve and muscle cells. Potassium maintains
normal muscle function by stabilizing the resting membrane potential of skeletal, smooth, and
cardiac muscles. Phosphate facilitates the production of adenosine triphosphate. -
Which electrolyte controls the function of neuromuscular junctions?
1
Calcium
2
Potassium
3
Phosphate
4
Magnesium
2
Blood plasma is considered an intravascular fluid. Synovial fluid is considered a transcellular
fluid. Extracellular fluid is located outside the cells. Interstitial fluid is located outside the
blood vessels. -
1|Page
, Which body fluid is considered an intravascular fluid?
1
Synovial fluid
2
Plasma of the blood
3
Fluid outside the cells
4
Fluid outside the blood vessel
2
Extravasation and infiltration are manifested by painful and blanched skin that is cool to the
touch and edematous. Phlebitis is manifested by redness, tenderness, pain, and warmth along
the course of the vein starting at the access site. Redness, heat, and swelling indicate a local
infection at the catheter entry site. Circulatory overload is manifested by crackles in the
dependent parts of the lungs, shortness of breath, and dependent edema. -
The skin of a patient taking intravenous fluids appears blanched, cool to the
touch, and edematous. Upon touch, the patient reports pain. Which complication does this
represent?
1
Phlebitis
2
Extravasation
3
Local infection
4
Circulatory overload
3
Positively charged ions are called cations. Negatively charged ions are called anions. A
chloride (Cl-) ion is an anion. Sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca+), and potassium (K+) are cations.
-
Which ion is an example of an anion?
1
Sodium
2
Calcium
3
Chloride
4
Potassium
4
A 78-year-old patient may have a loss of supportive tissue and the veins appear to be
superficial. Therefore, the nurse should lower the insertion angle for venipuncture to 10 to 15
degrees after penetrating the needle into the skin. Inserting the intravenous line into the back
of the hand may compromise the patient's mobility and result in discomfort. Applying friction
2|Page
,while cleaning the injection site may lead to shredding of the skin in older adults. Because
older adults have less subcutaneous support tissue, the nurse should avoid placing lines in
veins that are superficial. -
The nurse is providing intravenous therapy to a 78-year-old patient. Which
nursing action is appropriate in this condition?
1
Inserting the intravenous line on the back of the hand
2
Applying friction while cleaning the site
3
Placing the intravenous line in a superficial vein
4
Inserting the intravenous line at a 10 to 15 degree angle
1, 2, 4
Positively charged ions are called cations. Negatively charged ions are called anions. Sodium
(Na+), calcium (Ca+), and potassium (K+) are cations. Chloride (Cl-) and bicarbonate
(HCO3-) ions are anions. -
Which ions are cations? Select all that apply.
1
Sodium
2
Calcium
3
Chloride
4
Potassium
5
Bicarbonate
200
The flow rate is calculated by dividing the total infusion volume by the hours of
administration. Therefore, 2 L or 2000 mL is divided by 10 hours to obtain the infusion flow
rate: 2000/10 = 200 mL/hour. -
The primary health care provider ordered 2 L of saline over 10 hours to a patient
with diarrhea. What should be the flow rate of infusion? Record your answer in mL/hour
using a whole number. ____________mL/hour
1, 2, 3
Extracellular volume (ECV) excess occurs in a patient with sodium (Na+)-containing isotonic
fluid. The assessment finding of circulatory overload of intravenous fluids is ECV excess. A
patient with ECV excess is likely to develop crackles in the dependent parts of the lungs,
shortness of breath, and edema in the extremities. Appropriate interventions include
discontinuing the intravenous infusion and notifying the health care provider. The nurse
should also elevate the head of the patient's bed and administer oxygen and diuretics if
ordered. Starting a new intravenous line in another extremity may aggravate the patient's
3|Page
, condition. The removal of the catheter and application of a sterile dressing is done in the case
of local infection -
A patient with a 3% sodium chloride intravenous line develops shortness of
breath and edema in the extremities. Upon auscultation, the nurse hears crackling sounds in
the dependent parts of the lungs. Which nursing interventions are beneficial in this condition?
Select all that apply.
1
Discontinuing the infusion
2
Elevating the head of the bed
3
Notifying the health care provider
4
Starting a new line in another extremity
5
Removing the line and applying sterile dressing
1
A patient who is undergoing intravenous therapy should not perform isometric exercises
because it may lead to bleeding and injury at the injection site. During a shower, the patient
should protect the injection site and dressing from getting wet by covering it with plastic.
Applying pressure with sterile gauze at the injection site if the catheter falls out helps to
reduce bleeding. Inflammation and itching at the injection site may be an indication of
infection and phlebitis; the patient should report these manifestations immediately. -
A nurse teaches a patient with dehydration about maintaining safe intravenous
therapy at home. Which statement made by the patient indicates a need for further learning?
1
"I should perform isometric exercises daily for 30 minutes."
2
"I should cover the injection site with plastic to prevent the site from getting wet during a
shower."
3
"I should apply pressure to the injection site with sterile gauze if the catheter falls out."
4
"I should immediately report inflammation and itching at the injection site."
250
A patient with diarrhea requires 0.9% sodium chloride isotonic solution or normal saline
solution. The flow rate is calculated by dividing the total infusion volume by the number of
hours of administration. Therefore, 6 L or 6000 mL of normal saline solution is divided by 24
hours to obtain the infusion flow rate. The flow rate of the infusion is 6000/24 = 250
mL/hour. -
The primary health care provider ordered 6 L of 0.9% sodium chloride over 24
hours to a patient with diarrhea. What should be the flow rate of infusion? Record your
answer in mL/hour as a whole number.____________ mL/hour
4
4|Page
Electrolytes Practice Questions
2, 5
Redness, inflammation, swelling at the catheter site coupled with purulent indicate an
infection. Cleaning the patient's skin with alcohol helps to maintain asepsis. Inserting a new
intravenous line in the other extremity helps to reduce the chance of infection. Elevating the
patient's extremity helps to reduce infiltration and extravasation. Raising the head of the
patient's bed helps to control extracellular volume excess. The application of a pressure
dressing over the injection site helps to reduce bleeding. -
A patient who is undergoing intravenous therapy develops redness,
inflammation, and swelling at the catheter site. After further assessment, the nurse finds
purulent drainage from the injection site. Which nursing interventions are useful in this
situation? Select all that apply.
1
Elevating the extremity
2
Cleaning the skin with alcohol
3
Raising the head of the patient's bed
4
Applying a pressure dressing over the site
5
Inserting a new intravenous line in another extremity
4
Magnesium controls the function of neuromuscular junctions and is a cofactor for many
enzymes. Calcium influences the excitability of nerve and muscle cells. Potassium maintains
normal muscle function by stabilizing the resting membrane potential of skeletal, smooth, and
cardiac muscles. Phosphate facilitates the production of adenosine triphosphate. -
Which electrolyte controls the function of neuromuscular junctions?
1
Calcium
2
Potassium
3
Phosphate
4
Magnesium
2
Blood plasma is considered an intravascular fluid. Synovial fluid is considered a transcellular
fluid. Extracellular fluid is located outside the cells. Interstitial fluid is located outside the
blood vessels. -
1|Page
, Which body fluid is considered an intravascular fluid?
1
Synovial fluid
2
Plasma of the blood
3
Fluid outside the cells
4
Fluid outside the blood vessel
2
Extravasation and infiltration are manifested by painful and blanched skin that is cool to the
touch and edematous. Phlebitis is manifested by redness, tenderness, pain, and warmth along
the course of the vein starting at the access site. Redness, heat, and swelling indicate a local
infection at the catheter entry site. Circulatory overload is manifested by crackles in the
dependent parts of the lungs, shortness of breath, and dependent edema. -
The skin of a patient taking intravenous fluids appears blanched, cool to the
touch, and edematous. Upon touch, the patient reports pain. Which complication does this
represent?
1
Phlebitis
2
Extravasation
3
Local infection
4
Circulatory overload
3
Positively charged ions are called cations. Negatively charged ions are called anions. A
chloride (Cl-) ion is an anion. Sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca+), and potassium (K+) are cations.
-
Which ion is an example of an anion?
1
Sodium
2
Calcium
3
Chloride
4
Potassium
4
A 78-year-old patient may have a loss of supportive tissue and the veins appear to be
superficial. Therefore, the nurse should lower the insertion angle for venipuncture to 10 to 15
degrees after penetrating the needle into the skin. Inserting the intravenous line into the back
of the hand may compromise the patient's mobility and result in discomfort. Applying friction
2|Page
,while cleaning the injection site may lead to shredding of the skin in older adults. Because
older adults have less subcutaneous support tissue, the nurse should avoid placing lines in
veins that are superficial. -
The nurse is providing intravenous therapy to a 78-year-old patient. Which
nursing action is appropriate in this condition?
1
Inserting the intravenous line on the back of the hand
2
Applying friction while cleaning the site
3
Placing the intravenous line in a superficial vein
4
Inserting the intravenous line at a 10 to 15 degree angle
1, 2, 4
Positively charged ions are called cations. Negatively charged ions are called anions. Sodium
(Na+), calcium (Ca+), and potassium (K+) are cations. Chloride (Cl-) and bicarbonate
(HCO3-) ions are anions. -
Which ions are cations? Select all that apply.
1
Sodium
2
Calcium
3
Chloride
4
Potassium
5
Bicarbonate
200
The flow rate is calculated by dividing the total infusion volume by the hours of
administration. Therefore, 2 L or 2000 mL is divided by 10 hours to obtain the infusion flow
rate: 2000/10 = 200 mL/hour. -
The primary health care provider ordered 2 L of saline over 10 hours to a patient
with diarrhea. What should be the flow rate of infusion? Record your answer in mL/hour
using a whole number. ____________mL/hour
1, 2, 3
Extracellular volume (ECV) excess occurs in a patient with sodium (Na+)-containing isotonic
fluid. The assessment finding of circulatory overload of intravenous fluids is ECV excess. A
patient with ECV excess is likely to develop crackles in the dependent parts of the lungs,
shortness of breath, and edema in the extremities. Appropriate interventions include
discontinuing the intravenous infusion and notifying the health care provider. The nurse
should also elevate the head of the patient's bed and administer oxygen and diuretics if
ordered. Starting a new intravenous line in another extremity may aggravate the patient's
3|Page
, condition. The removal of the catheter and application of a sterile dressing is done in the case
of local infection -
A patient with a 3% sodium chloride intravenous line develops shortness of
breath and edema in the extremities. Upon auscultation, the nurse hears crackling sounds in
the dependent parts of the lungs. Which nursing interventions are beneficial in this condition?
Select all that apply.
1
Discontinuing the infusion
2
Elevating the head of the bed
3
Notifying the health care provider
4
Starting a new line in another extremity
5
Removing the line and applying sterile dressing
1
A patient who is undergoing intravenous therapy should not perform isometric exercises
because it may lead to bleeding and injury at the injection site. During a shower, the patient
should protect the injection site and dressing from getting wet by covering it with plastic.
Applying pressure with sterile gauze at the injection site if the catheter falls out helps to
reduce bleeding. Inflammation and itching at the injection site may be an indication of
infection and phlebitis; the patient should report these manifestations immediately. -
A nurse teaches a patient with dehydration about maintaining safe intravenous
therapy at home. Which statement made by the patient indicates a need for further learning?
1
"I should perform isometric exercises daily for 30 minutes."
2
"I should cover the injection site with plastic to prevent the site from getting wet during a
shower."
3
"I should apply pressure to the injection site with sterile gauze if the catheter falls out."
4
"I should immediately report inflammation and itching at the injection site."
250
A patient with diarrhea requires 0.9% sodium chloride isotonic solution or normal saline
solution. The flow rate is calculated by dividing the total infusion volume by the number of
hours of administration. Therefore, 6 L or 6000 mL of normal saline solution is divided by 24
hours to obtain the infusion flow rate. The flow rate of the infusion is 6000/24 = 250
mL/hour. -
The primary health care provider ordered 6 L of 0.9% sodium chloride over 24
hours to a patient with diarrhea. What should be the flow rate of infusion? Record your
answer in mL/hour as a whole number.____________ mL/hour
4
4|Page
