Crazy Weight Gain? or not?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Help! I am working on a care plan that is due tomorrow. I just realized that the patient's chart shows an admission weight of 133 lbs, and a week later the chart shows her weight at 169! She was admitted for renal failure, and I know that causes weight gain, but isn't this a bit too much? Do you guys think this is a mistake?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CTICU.

It's probably fluid retention r/t renal failure, if she's not being dialysed. Is she?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology, Palliative Care, Hospice.

It seems like an excessive amount to me. I would question one of those numbers for sure...correct my math if I'm wrong but that's a gain of 36 lbs, and a pint is approx one pound, so she's retaining 18L of fluid? Is she THAT edematous? Are her lungs wet? I'm a relatively new grad, so I could be wrong, but in all of nursing school and in 2 months of practice I have never heard anything over 8-10L.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks so much for your input! I think it is an error, probably on the admission weight. I think sometimes the person who admits just guesses or asks a family member, especially when it is an emergency admission. She only had +2 edema in her lower extremities bilaterally. She didn't sound wet either. They had not started dialisis. Will show it as possible error in my care plan. THANKS AGAIN!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Emergency Department.

Maybe she was 163 on admission and up to 169. That sounds a lot more reasonable if she's only +2 in LE and - adventitious breath sounds.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Maybe it's due to the use of different scales?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

I think it depends on whether the 133 pounds is a weight that is stated by the patient or it could also be a different scale that was used to weigh her than when they got the 169. This is why the same scale should always be used to weigh the patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment