ELI5- Why is an iv drip so much better than drinking water?
In: Biology
Administering IV fluid, along with the required use of a bed pan in an inpatient setting, is an accurate way to monitor fluid intake and urine production. Physicians frequently will require the nursing staff to “Monitor I’s and O’s,” meaning they should measure and report fluid that goes in and fluid that goes out. There are many reasons this might be valuable, but most commonly it’s used to evaluate hydration or kidney function. When IV fluid is prescribed over these concerns, it’s effectiveness is measured with a hematocrit blood test. Dehydration results in an elevated hematocrit and fluid given intravenously should lower the hematocrit over time.
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