A nurse is caring for a client who consumes 3 oz of milk, 2 oz of orange juice, 3 oz of tea, and 4 oz of water over a 4-hr period. The client is also receiving dextrose 5% in 0.45% sodium chloride 30 mL/hr by continuous IV infusion. Calculate the client’s intake for that 4-hr period in ml. (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To calculate the client’s total intake for the 4-hour period, follow these steps:
1. Convert all fluid intake to milliliters (mL)
The client’s fluid intake includes milk, orange juice, tea, and water. To sum these, first convert each fluid from ounces (oz) to milliliters (mL), using the conversion factor that 1 ounce equals approximately 29.5735 milliliters.
- Milk: 3 oz×29.5735 mL/oz=88.721 mL3 \text{ oz} \times 29.5735 \text{ mL/oz} = 88.721 \text{ mL}3 oz×29.5735 mL/oz=88.721 mL Rounded to the nearest whole number: 89 mL
- Orange Juice: 2 oz×29.5735 mL/oz=59.147 mL2 \text{ oz} \times 29.5735 \text{ mL/oz} = 59.147 \text{ mL}2 oz×29.5735 mL/oz=59.147 mL Rounded to the nearest whole number: 59 mL
- Tea: 3 oz×29.5735 mL/oz=88.721 mL3 \text{ oz} \times 29.5735 \text{ mL/oz} = 88.721 \text{ mL}3 oz×29.5735 mL/oz=88.721 mL Rounded to the nearest whole number: 89 mL
- Water: 4 oz×29.5735 mL/oz=118.294 mL4 \text{ oz} \times 29.5735 \text{ mL/oz} = 118.294 \text{ mL}4 oz×29.5735 mL/oz=118.294 mL Rounded to the nearest whole number: 118 mL
Add these values to get the total oral intake: 89 mL+59 mL+89 mL+118 mL=355 mL89 \text{ mL} + 59 \text{ mL} + 89 \text{ mL} + 118 \text{ mL} = 355 \text{ mL}89 mL+59 mL+89 mL+118 mL=355 mL
2. Calculate the intravenous (IV) fluid intake
The client is receiving dextrose 5% in 0.45% sodium chloride at a rate of 30 mL/hr. Over 4 hours, the total intake from the IV infusion is: 30 mL/hr×4 hours=120 mL30 \text{ mL/hr} \times 4 \text{ hours} = 120 \text{ mL}30 mL/hr×4 hours=120 mL
3. Compute the total fluid intake
Sum the oral intake and the IV infusion: 355 mL+120 mL=475 mL355 \text{ mL} + 120 \text{ mL} = 475 \text{ mL}355 mL+120 mL=475 mL
Conclusion
The total fluid intake for the 4-hour period is 475 mL.
This calculation combines the client’s fluid consumption from various sources and their intravenous fluid intake. By converting ounces to milliliters and summing all sources of fluid, you ensure an accurate total of the client’s intake. This is crucial for proper fluid balance monitoring, which is essential in managing the client’s hydration status and overall health.