Practice Question
In sepsis from a kidney infection with low blood pressure, which fluid is most appropriate for initial resuscitation?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
0.9% NaCL
Rationale:
💎 Sepsis with hypotension represents early septic shock risk, where the primary problem is intravascular volume depletion and vasodilation leading to poor tissue perfusion.
💎 The recommended first-line fluid for sepsis resuscitation is an isotonic crystalloid, such as 0.9% sodium chloride (Normal Saline) or Lactated Ringer’s, because they expand intravascular volume rapidly.
💎 0.9% NaCl stays mostly in the extracellular compartment, providing effective restoration of blood pressure and cardiac output, which is crucial in preventing organ failure.
💎 Hypotonic fluids such as 0.45% NaCl or D5W shift water into cells and do not maintain vascular volume, which can worsen hypotension and cerebral edema.
💎 3% NaCl is hypertonic and reserved for specific cases like severe hyponatremia or cerebral edema, not for routine septic shock resuscitation due to the risk of rapid sodium shifts and osmotic injury.
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This question is from NURSING CONCEPTS II- MIDTERM EXAM FALL 2025 which contains 98 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN Concept-Based Assessment Level Exam(s)
- Answer Choices: 4