The nurse is caring for a patient who is admitted to the hospital with dehydration and gastroenteritis. The patient attempted to walk to the bathroom and fainted right after getting out of bed. The nurse knows which condition to be the most likely cause of the patient's collapse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient with dehydration is at risk for orthostatic hypotension or falling of the blood pressure when the patient rises to a standing position. When the blood pressure falls sufficiently, fainting may occur. The patient should be assisted to rise slowly from a supine to a sitting position first before slowly getting to his feet. Circulatory overload, hemolytic anemia, and catheter embolism are unlikely to be causative factors.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Is Admitted