The nurse is caring for a patient who weighs 75 kg. The patient has intravenous (IV) fluids infusing at a rate of 50 mL/hour and has consumed 100 mL of fluids orally in the past 24 hours. Which action will the nurse take?
a. Contact the provider to ask about increasing the IV rate to 90 mL/hour.
b. Discuss with the provider the need to increase the IV rate to 150 mL/hour.
c. Encourage the patient to drink more water so the IV can be discontinued.
d. Instruct the patient to drink 250 mL of water every 8 hours.
ANS: A
The recommended daily fluid intake for adults is 30 to 40 mL/kg/day. This patient should have a minimum of 2250 mL/day and is currently receiving 1200 mL IV plus 100 mL orally for a total of 1300 mL. Increasing the IV rate to 90 mL/hour would give the patient 2160 mL. If the patient continues to take oral fluids, the amount of 2250 mL can be met. A rate of 150 mL per hour would give the patient 3600 mL per day, which exceeds the recommended amount. Since this patient is not taking fluids well and is not receiving adequate IV fluids, encouraging an increased fluid intake is not indicated. Even if the patient drank 250 mL of water every 8 hours, the amount would not be sufficient.
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