A nurse is preparing to administer I.V. fluids that will not alter serum osmolarity or pull fluid into or out of the intravascular space. Which fluid should the nurse administer?

Explanation

•Isotonic solution has equal osmolarity compared to serum. This would not create a concentration gradient and not pull fluids into or out of the vascular space.

•Hypotonic solution contains less solutes than the serum, making its osmolarity lower. This will lower the serum osmolarity and pull fluid out of the vascular space by diffusion (Due to the concentration gradient).

•Hypertonic solution contains more solutes than the serum, making its osmolarity higher. This will raise the serum osmolarity and pull fluid into the vascular space by diffusion (Due to the concentration gradient).

•Supratonic solution does not exist.

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