Page 2388 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

CHAPTER 69

Complex Care

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Priority Concepts
Clinical Judgment, Perfusion

I. Administration of Intravenous (IV) Fluids
A. Intravenous Therapy
1. Used to sustain clients who are unable to take
substances orally
2. Replaces water, electrolytes, and nutrients more
rapidly than oral administration
3. Provides immediate access to the vascular system for
the rapid delivery of specific solutions without the
time required for gastrointestinal tract absorption
4. Provides a vascular route for the administration of
medication or blood components
B. Types of solutions (Table 69-1)

Lactated Ringer’s solution contains potassium and should not be administered

to clients with acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease.
1. Isotonic solutions
a. Have the same osmolality as body
fluids
b. Increase extracellular fluid volume
c. Do not enter the cells because no
osmotic force exists to shift the fluids
2. Hypotonic solutions
a. Are more dilute solutions and have a
lower osmolality than body fluids
b. Cause the movement of water into cells
by osmosis
c. Should be administered slowly to
prevent cellular edema
3. Hypertonic solutions
a. Are more concentrated solutions and
have a higher osmolality than body
fluids

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