Exam 40: The Child With a Fluid and Electrolyte Alteration

What assessment should the nurse make before initiating an intravenous (IV)infusion of dextrose 5% in 0.9% normal saline solution with 10 mEq of potassium chloride for a child hospitalized with dehydration?

What is the best response for the nurse to give a parent about contacting the physician regarding an infant with diarrhea?

What is the best response by the nurse to a parent asking about antidiarrheal medication for her 18-month-old child?

You are caring for a 44-lb child who is hospitalized with vomiting and severe dehydration.The physician has ordered parenteral rehydration therapy to restore circulation.The order is for sodium chloride (0.9%)solution in a 20 mL/kg bolus.How much will you give?

Which action is the primary concern in the treatment plan for a child with persistent vomiting?

A child has a 2-day history of vomiting and diarrhea.He has hypoactive bowel sounds and an irregular pulse.Electrolyte values are sodium,139 mEq/L; potassium,3.3 mEq/L; and calcium,9.5 mg/dL.This child is likely to have which of the following electrolyte imbalances?

Which assessment findings indicate to the nurse that a child has excess fluid volume? Select all that apply.

Which statement best describes why infants are at greater risk for dehydration than older children?

Alterations in acid-base balance can affect cellular metabolism and enzymatic processes.When alterations in pH become too much for buffer systems to handle,compensatory mechanisms are activated.If the pH drops below normal than acidosis will occur.Is this statement true or false?

What is the most important factor in determining the rate of fluid replacement in the dehydrated child?

What is the priority nursing intervention for a 6-month-old infant hospitalized with diarrhea and dehydration?

The parents of a child with acid-base imbalance ask the nurse about mechanisms that regulate acid-base balance.Which statement by the nurse accurately explains the mechanisms regulating acid-base balance in children?

The nurse who provides care for young children with fluid and electrolyte imbalance understands that they are more vulnerable to changes in fluid balance than adults.Under normal conditions the amount of fluid ingested during the day should equal the amount of fluid lost.Sensible water loss is that which occurs through the respiratory tract and skin.Is this statement true or false?

Bodily fluids are composed of two elements; water and _____.

A nurse is teaching parents about diarrhea.Which statement by the parents indicates understanding of the teaching?

Which diet would the nurse recommend to the mother of a child who is having mild diarrhea?

Which assessment is most relevant to the care of an infant with dehydration?