The patient comes to the emergency department following an overdose of aspirin, an acidic drug. What will the best plan of the nurse include?

Question

1. Administration of intravenous fluids to flush the kidneys
2. Administration of ammonium chloride to the patient
3. Administration of sodium bicarbonate to the patient
4. Administration of intravenous proteins to bind the aspirin

Answer 1

3
Rationale 1: Administering intravenous (IV) fluids will not increase the excretion of aspirin from the body.
Rationale 2: Ammonium chloride will acidify the urine and cause reabsorption of the aspirin.
Rationale 3: Sodium bicarbonate will alkalinize the urine and increase the excretion of aspirin from the body.
Rationale 4: Administering proteins will not help with the excretion of aspirin from the body.
Global Rationale: : Sodium bicarbonate will alkalinize the urine and increase the excretion of aspirin from the body. Administering intravenous (IV) fluids will not increase the excretion of aspirin from the body. Ammonium chloride will acidify the urine and cause reabsorption of the aspirin. Administering proteins will not help with the excretion of aspirin from the body.