Fluid, Electrolyte

What percentage of an adult’s body weight consists of water?

• 10% to 20%

• 30% to 40%

• 50% to 60%

• 70% to 80%

Answer explanation

The percentage of water declines to 50% to 60% in adults.

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?

• If the patient loses 5% of body fluid

• If the patient loses 10% of body fluid

• If the patient loses 15% of body fluid

• If the patient loses 20% of body fluid

Answer explanation

A loss of 20% of body fluid in an adult is fatal.

The nurse uses a diagram to show that fluids in the interstitial and intravascular compartments are combined. What do they combine to form?

• intercellular compartment

• circulating compartment

• vertical compartment

• extracellular compartment

Answer explanation

The fluids in the interstitial and intravascular compartments are combined to form the extracellular compartment.

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?

• 1000 mL

• 1500 mL

• 2050 mL

• 2500 mL

Answer explanation

Daily fluid intake and output is about 2200 to 2700 mL/day, and urinary output is about 1000 to 2000 mL/day.

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?

• 10 mL

• 20 mL

• 30 mL

• 40 mL

Answer explanation

The kidneys must excrete a minimum of 30 mL/h to eliminate waste products.

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?

• An accurate weight

• Water balance

• Adequate nutrition

• Urinary output

Answer explanation

A simple and accurate method of determining water balance is to weigh the patient under the same conditions each day.

When a patient takes substances into the body, they first enter the extracellular compartment. What must the substances enter to carry out their function?

• Horizontal compartment

• Intracellular compartment

• Compartmental

• Vertical compartment

Answer explanation

To carry out their function, substances must enter the cell.

What is the method by which inhaled oxygen is moved into the intravascular compartment

called?

• Active transport

• Oxygenation

• Passive transport

• Mass movement

Answer explanation

Passive transport occurs when the patient inhales oxygen into the lungs, with the oxygen passing by diffusion into the intravascular compartment.

The nurse explains to a patient that the drug Lasix reduces edema by drawing water from the interstitial space into the intravascular space. What is this process called?

• Diffusion

• Filtration

• Osmosis

• Homeostasis

Answer explanation

Osmosis is the movement of water from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration

What does actively transporting electrolytes from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration require?

• Hydrostatic pressure

• Osmotic pressure

• Blood pressure

• Pulse pressure

Answer explanation

Electrolytes are moved by hydrostatic pressure, which is a form of active transport.