A 4-year-old child receiving maintenance IV fluids is ordered 0.45% sodium chloride at full maintenance rate. The nurse recognises a risk when the child’s serum sodium is 130 mEq/L because:
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Correct answer: Hypotonic fluid may worsen hyponatremia and risk cerebral edema
Hypotonic fluids in the setting of low sodium may lower serum sodium further, risking cerebral edema; children must have appropriate tonicity.
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