Fluid Volume Deficit
Analysis Paper: Fluid Volume Deficit
“Fluid volume is a term that describes the balancing of input and output of fluid in the body” (Welch 2010). This balance can be affected by many factors: inadequate intake, shock, vomiting, diarrhea, or too much output. It can also be caused by third spacing. Fluid volume balance is very important to monitor patients because it can affect every body system and can easily be altered. Fluid volume deficit is more commonly referred to as dehydration. Euvolamia is the term used to describe a state of normal body fluid (Welch 2010). Approximately 60 percent of a male’s body weight and 52 percent of a female’s body weight is fluid, which consists mostly of water and electrolytes. A reduction of only 5 percent in this fluid would result in a patient developing thirst and would be considered mild dehydration. 8-10 percent would cause hypertension, tachycardia, weak pulse, confusion and a decrease in urine output. 10-15 percent would be considered severe dehydration and could result in death (Welch, 2010). The nursing diagnosis analyzed in this paper is fluid volume deficit related to diarrhea secondary to clostridium difficile. Behaviors for fluid volume deficit are as follows: skin turgor more than 3 seconds, dry mucus membranes, longitudinal furrows on the tongue, slow capillary refill, confusion, lethargic, low urine output as defined as less than 30 millimeters an hour (mL/hr), thirst, high sodium levels defined as higher than 145 millequivalents per liter, low blood pressure defined as low in relation to patients normal blood pressure, including orthostatic hypotension, increased pulse rate, high specific gravity defined as higher than 1,030 high blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels defined as higher than 18 mg/dl, and high hemocratic levels defined as higher than 46 for females and 54 for males, and cool extremities. Please not all of these levels are generic and based off the
“Fluid volume is a term that describes the balancing of input and output of fluid in the body” (Welch 2010). This balance can be affected by many factors: inadequate intake, shock, vomiting, diarrhea, or too much output. It can also be caused by third spacing. Fluid volume balance is very important to monitor patients because it can affect every body system and can easily be altered. Fluid volume deficit is more commonly referred to as dehydration. Euvolamia is the term used to describe a state of normal body fluid (Welch 2010). Approximately 60 percent of a male’s body weight and 52 percent of a female’s body weight is fluid, which consists mostly of water and electrolytes. A reduction of only 5 percent in this fluid would result in a patient developing thirst and would be considered mild dehydration. 8-10 percent would cause hypertension, tachycardia, weak pulse, confusion and a decrease in urine output. 10-15 percent would be considered severe dehydration and could result in death (Welch, 2010). The nursing diagnosis analyzed in this paper is fluid volume deficit related to diarrhea secondary to clostridium difficile. Behaviors for fluid volume deficit are as follows: skin turgor more than 3 seconds, dry mucus membranes, longitudinal furrows on the tongue, slow capillary refill, confusion, lethargic, low urine output as defined as less than 30 millimeters an hour (mL/hr), thirst, high sodium levels defined as higher than 145 millequivalents per liter, low blood pressure defined as low in relation to patients normal blood pressure, including orthostatic hypotension, increased pulse rate, high specific gravity defined as higher than 1,030 high blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels defined as higher than 18 mg/dl, and high hemocratic levels defined as higher than 46 for females and 54 for males, and cool extremities. Please not all of these levels are generic and based off the