One day after a patient is admitted to the medical unit, you note that the patient is oliguric. You notify the acute-care nurse practitioner who orders a fluid challenge of $200 \mathrm{~mL}$ of normal saline solution over 15 minutes. This intervention will achieve which of the following?

Question

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If a patient is not excreting enough urine, the health care provider needs to determine whether the
depressed renal function is the result of reduced renal blood flow, which is a fluid volume deficit (FVD or prerenal azotemia), or acute tubular necrosis that results in necrosis or cellular death from prolonged FVD. A typical example of a fluid challenge involves administering 100 to $200 \mathrm{~mL}$ of normal saline solution over 15 minutes. The response by a patient with FVD but with normal renal function is increased urine output and an increase in blood pressure. Laboratory examinations are needed to distinguish hyponatremia from hypernatremia. A fluid challenge is not used to evaluate pituitary gland function. A fluid challenge may provide information regarding hypertension-induced oliguria, but it is not an effective treatment.

One Day After a Patient Is Admitted to the Medical 200 mL200 \mathrm{~mL}200 mL

One Day After a Patient Is Admitted to the Medical $200 \mathrm{~mL}$