Which fluid order should the nurse question for a patient with a traumatic brain injury?
A) 0.45% sodium chloride
B) 0.9% sodium chloride
C) Lactated Ringer's
D) Dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

0.45% sodium chloride is a hypotonic solution,and hypotonic solutions cause cells to swell,which can cause increased intracranial pressure.This can be life threatening for a patient with a traumatic brain injury.The other solutions are physiologically isotonic sodium-containing solutions that will expand ECV but will not cause cell swelling.In the fluid container,dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride is hypertonic,but the dextrose enters cells rapidly,leaving isotonic 0.9% sodium chloride.

Which Fluid Order Should the Nurse Question for a Patient