why is this a sign of overhydration?

Published

a post op patient has a BP of 112/72, an increased HR, diaphoretic, and RR 29....

wouldn't this be a sign of dehydration?

Specializes in Med/Surg.
Maybe she/he should do their own homework but it is kind of a hard question and might be fun to try to answer. My theory as to why those s/s could indicate overhydration is: BP is well WNL but since they're post-op the different medications/anesthesia may keep their BP from shooting up, the increased pulse and resp maybe d/t hemodilution and a compensatory response to the lack of O2 the the heart/body tissues, and the diaphoresis I don't really have a good mechanism for but it makes sense that if you're fluid overloaded you would sweat rather than not. I'm still a student myself so take it for what it's worth and maybe you can see at least one way to evaluate clinical simulation type thing like this by digging into the physiology behind it.

I am sorry but I am having a hard time following this reply and reasoning. Fluid overload and sweating? And I am not going to pitch in on homework!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it's pretty mean of you guys too assume she is trying to get you to do her homework, and then comment on it before she has a chance to defend it. Funny thing is at the bottom of the page where it has the two suggested links for other discussions... the first one says "Do Nurses Eat Their Young?" Since when can't nurses collaborate over interesting questions?!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
I think it's pretty mean of you guys too assume she is trying to get you to do her homework, and then comment on it before she has a chance to defend it. Funny thing is at the bottom of the page where it has the two suggested links for other discussions... the first one says "Do Nurses Eat Their Young?" Since when can't nurses collaborate over interesting questions?!

She already stated in another similar thread that she is studying for the NCLEX. We are assuming nothing. Collaboration is one thing, and you will see plenty of it here, but giving someone the answers when part of learning to be a nurse is learning how to find the answers, is not doing the poster a service.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Okay so what... she's going to cheat on the NCLEX by asking questions.... or maybe she just ran across something she didn't get and figured that someone with experience could help her out/explain it better. You know the NCLEX study guides have the answers in them... along with the explanations. What's wrong with asking the experts?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

She's not going to have anyone to ask when she takes her NCLEX. I want her to do her thinking for herself. I think it does a disservice to students of nursing to just hand them the answers. Apparently, there are others here who share my point of view, and it is extremely insulting to accuse us of eating our young simply because we want her to do her own thinking. In fact, whenever someone throws out that tired little inference, it has a paradoxical effect and makes me hungry.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

She knew the answer, she just wanted the rational! Haven't you ever wanted input on something you didn't completely understand? You should feel happy that you have knowledge to share!! If she wanted just the answer she probably could of just googled it and get a definitive answer with out the possibility of it being wrong.

It doesn't really matter, I just want to say that this is the reason that I don't post much on here.... I've been coming to this website for awhile and I wouldn't ask anything theory based only for the fact that many times when someone asks questions people seem to decide that they can't think for themselves. I can think for myself, rationalize things in my own mind but I would still ask just to make sure that I'm not completely off base. Also other people opinions are invaluable especially nurses who have been in the field for awhile. Aren't they the ones who write the text books.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.
She knew the answer, she just wanted the rational! Haven't you ever wanted input on something you didn't completely understand? You should feel happy that you have knowledge to share!! If she wanted just the answer she probably could of just googled it and get a definitive answer with out the possibility of it being wrong.

It doesn't really matter, I just want to say that this is the reason that I don't post much on here.... I've been coming to this website for awhile and I wouldn't ask anything theory based only for the fact that many times when someone asks questions people seem to decide that they can't think for themselves. I can think for myself, rationalize things in my own mind but I would still ask just to make sure that I'm not completely off base. Also other people opinions are invaluable especially nurses who have been in the field for awhile. Aren't they the ones who write the text books.

Please look at the OP's profile at all of the posts made and you will see why some share some of my feelings.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

It appears like she did critical think...which is why she came up with her own conclusion of dehydration. I think she was wondering why her conclusion was wrong since the answer was fluid overload, whether it was a test question, homework, or clinical situation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
a post op patient has a BP of 112/72, an increased HR, diaphoretic, and RR 29....

wouldn't this be a sign of dehydration?

Well anyway, maybe the diaphoresis and has a increased RR is because the body is trying to lose fluid through insensible losses. In dehydration the BP would probably drop, the heart rate would go up to try to perfuse the body better. I'm not sure about the pulse. Perhaps the pulse is up because the H&H would likely be low so the body is trying to push the blood around faster to perfuse the organs??? Does any of this sound right?

Its not really that much information, I wonder what the other choices where?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
Well anyway, maybe the diaphoresis and has a increased RR is because the body is trying to lose fluid through insensible losses. In dehydration the BP would probably drop, the heart rate would go up to try to perfuse the body better. I'm not sure about the pulse. Perhaps the pulse is up because the H&H would likely be low so the body is trying to push the blood around faster to perfuse the organs??? Does any of this sound right?

Its not really that much information, I wonder what the other choices where?

See? You're thinking now too! Much better than being told, I think.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Think back to your A&P. What is one of the s/s of SNS activation? Diaphoresis, right? Why would the patient be diaphoretic? Could it be the stress of the work of breathing? Why would the work of breathing be increased in fluid overload? Maybe they have pleural effusions, which interfere with gas exchange at the alveolar membrane, related to decreased cardiac output.....

Dammit, you sucked me in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
See? You're thinking now too! Much better than being told, I think.....

ummm. I was thinking all along...I didn't start this!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion