Priority Assessment During IV Administration

[mvass00]

If you were administering IV fluids to a geriatric patient which would be the priority assessment? Choose one.

Auscultate lungs

Measure Output

Monitor Blood Pressure Readings

Obtain Serum Electrolyte Levels

There is no further information for this question. These are the only facts given.

Thanks.

[shescoolie]

Don't know if it's the correct answer but I would check the serum electrolyte levels first to ensure the IV fluid I am giving is not contraindicated for the patient. Geriatric patients are especially vunerable because of their decreased metabolic processes and decreased function of organs. Output is important, but is irrelevant without checking the input as well. Auscultating the lungs and checking the BP is important but not the priority. Negative findings from checking both could indicate a problem that is secondary to electrolyte embalances so again you should check the serem levels first.

Hope that helps...again don't know if it's the answer your instructor wants.

[itsmejuli]

But if this is an NCLEX style question, the priority answer may be "auscultate lungs" since geriatric patients are at higher risk of fluid overload when receiving IV fluids.

Look at the answers again:

You can eliminate "obtain serum electrolyte levels" as nurses don't "obtain" them, we review them.

"Measure Output" isn't as fast an indicator of fluid overload as auscultating lungs.

"Monitor Blood Pressure Readings" is a close second to "auscultation"

Well of course, this is only my reasoning.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

if you were administering iv fluids to a geriatric patient which would be the priority assessment? choose one.

auscultate lungs

measure output

monitor blood pressure readings

obtain serum electrolyte levels

assess the lungs for evidence of congestion. as people age the blood vessels decrease in size, the peripheral resistance of vessels increases with a decrease in venous return, valves in the veins become less efficient and this all results in decreased blood flow as well as blood being shunted into the small branches of the veins. the lungs are extremely vascular and at risk for developing congestion due to this decreased blood flow and shunting. think of your abcs. airway and oxygen always trumps fluid and electrolytes.

while a number of aging factors can also result in electrolyte changes, it takes a physician's order to get labwork done + time to draw the blood and get the results back.