The nurse is providing care to an older adult patient who is receiving intravenous (IV)fluids at 150 mL/hr.The patient is currently exhibiting crackles in the lungs,shortness of breath,and jugular vein distention.Which complication of IV fluid therapy does the nurse suspect the patient is experiencing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient is exhibiting signs of fluid volume excess, which occurs when there is an increase in the volume of extracellular fluid. Symptoms of fluid volume excess can include crackles in the lungs, shortness of breath, and jugular vein distention. Speed shock is a rare occurrence in which a patient has a severe reaction to an IV medication or fluid that is administered too quickly. Anaphylactic reaction is a severe allergic reaction that can occur in response to medication, but it is not related to fluid volume. Pulmonary embolism is a blockage in the blood vessels in the lungs and is not directly related to IV fluid therapy.

The Nurse Is Providing Care to an Older Adult Patient