The nurse is caring for a patient with a continuous intravenous infusion of 0.9% normal saline with 40 mEq of potassium chloride added to each liter.During a routine hourly check of the infusion,the nurse discovers that 4 hours of fluid has infused in the past 1 hour.The nurse's first action should be to:

A) notify the primary care provider.
B) assess the patient.
C) reduce the infusion rate.
D) notify the charge nurse.

Question

Kylie Seago · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C, Explanation :  If the intravenous fluid is infusing 4 times faster than ordered,the first intervention should be to reduce the infusion rate.Notification of the primary care provider and the charge nurse would occur after the flow rate is reduced and an assessment of the patient is performed.Although assessing the patient is vitally important,you do not want to allow the fluid to continue infusing at a rapid rate while you are performing the assessment.

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