Question from test today, need your opinion PLEASE!!

gypsyatheart · Feb 13, 2004

I am going to throw my .02 cents in...I'd go with answer "C"; although, I agree w/the rest of you, none of the choices are ideal. However the juices listed are just a lot of sugar, and 3000mls of H2O breaks down to about 12.5 8 oz glasses, which for a PP woman really isn't too bad. Plus all the other benefits of being well hydrated, milk production for a lactating woman, etc.

This takes me back to nursing school days...I used to hate this kind of stuff!

kwagner_51 · Feb 13, 2004

C Force fluids :angryfire

My textbook says, and I quote:

"Nursing considerations: The woman with a UTI must be instructed to take the medication for the entire time it is prescribed and not stop when the symptoms abate. In addition, she must drink at least 3000 ml of fluid each day to help dilute the bacterial count and flush the infection from the bladder. Acidification of the urine inhibits multiplication of bacteria and drinks such as apricot, plum, prune or cranberry juices are frequently recommended. Carbonated drinks should be avoided because they increase urine alkalinity.

Teaching should also include measures to prevent UTI , such as proper perineal care, increasing fluid intake, and urinating frequently. Pg 792 Foundations of Maternal-Newborn Nursing

I KNEW that a woman with a UTI was supposed to drink 3000 ml of fluids, but the question asked how to PREVENT one. The bolded text above proves the way I answered the question.

Based on what I read and how how I understood the question, I chose D. When I tried to explain my reasoning, she said there was no way I would win, because ALL post partum women are dehydrated and are at high risk for UTI.

Thinking about it NOW, it makes sense, but I was really Ticked-off I knew my stuff hands down and missed this one because of the way it was worded. :angryfire

So all you nursing students out there take note: If you get a question like this on your exams ALWAYS Force fluids. You can not go wrong in postpartum if you do this.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

mittels · Feb 13, 2004

the answer would be C

"to prevent"

this is the question.

"to help tx"

would be D

mittels · Feb 13, 2004

I wonder what the exact wording was in the question how postpartum is she, hell i dont know but 3000cc is alot of po fluids but NS at 125 cc/hr would give you the 3000 plus the po fluids.

3000cc fluid each day is reccomended(SP) to try and get rid of the excess fluid given during child birth.

LuvNx · Feb 13, 2004

I would say 'C' because pushing fluids is the best way to flush harmful bacteria from your body. Selection 'D' does not state cranberry juice which is a known home remedy for prevention of UTI's. Although any acidic juices will work or 1,000mg to 2,000mg of vitamin C everyday should do the trick. But, since the question pertains to post-partum .... I say the answer is still 'C'.

Jrnalist2RNinOR · Feb 13, 2004

I would say D, because of the word "force" in C

Speculating · Feb 13, 2004

I would say D, because of the word "force" in C

Right off the bat I choose "C". I threw "D" out because it didn't make any sense to me 10 It didn't give an amount. 2) Maybe increase the acidity of the urine but the apple juice blew it. "A" & "B" were not even an option.

proud2basn · Feb 13, 2004

I know what you are going through. We just had our intrapartal/postpartal exam and the questions on it were worded AWFUL! Just makes me wonder where they come up with these questions?

LydiaGreen · Feb 13, 2004

Just wait until you get boards! I know what I'm doing, have to write my pregrad exam in aprroximately three weeks and my boards in June, but the way a question is worded or overthinking the question wrecks me everytime. Boards are worse than nursing school tests and exams. Do yourself a favour and start using the prep guides now. You need to adapt to the tests, because the tests will NOT adapt to you. A person who KNOWS the material can still fail because of the wording of the stupid question! Test taking in nursing school should be an entirely seperate course!

colleen10 · Feb 13, 2004

We just covered this in class.

I would answer C even if she was not in the post partal period.

Increase of fluid will also "prevent" UTI as well as help battle it if it is allready present.

Also, they don't mention "how much" of the cranberry, OJ or apple juice.

I wonder which would be better for the patient - to drink 3 glasses of cranberry juice or 8 or so glasses of fluid/water a day. Which would have a greater affect on preventing or clearing an infection? Probably the 8 glasses of fluid.

I too do not like the term "force fluids" either.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Feb 13, 2004

The fact that the cranberry juice was NOT mentioned gave me that "funny little feeling" about answer C... and when I read apple juice, the alarms really went off, and I knew this was one of those "trick questions". As well as there being no amount given.

At first glance, 3000 ml fluids seems a lot, but as mentioned above, there is great fluid loss in postpartum as well as needing to replenish for lactation, so I would have had to go with "C".

They try to suk you in with these little "wording" deals... I've always had that little "alarm" go off when I came across these... at least to cause me to take a closer look, and pinpoint where they were trying to get me to think ... gotta watch 'em ! "D

rn-jane · Feb 13, 2004

I didn't have time to read through all the posts, but,I'm going with c. Normally I would say drink the cranberry juice and water. IT may sound like 3000ml is alot but as long as they are not prone to hold fluid, have cardiac problem and is reasonalbly healthy, it shoul be okay. Two years ago when i had kidney stones I had to drink4000-5000ml water a day. It would help flush out the kidney.