Intake & Output Monitoring Quiz for Nursing

1. A patient with severe diarrhea has a measured output of 1,200 mL in 8 hours. What is the priority nursing action?

Document the output and continue routine care

Assess for signs of dehydration and notify the provider

Increase the patient's oral intake immediately

Restrict all fluids for the next 4 hours

2. A patient consuming 2,000 mL of fluids daily but excreting only 800 mL is at risk for which condition?

Dehydration

Hypernatremia

Hypervolemia and fluid overload

Hypoglycemia

3. In a patient with kidney disease, why is accurate intake and output monitoring especially critical?

It prevents infection

It helps assess renal function and prevent fluid overload complications

It eliminates the need for laboratory tests

It reduces the patient's pain

4. A patient reports feeling dizzy and lightheaded. Assessment reveals tachycardia and a negative fluid balance. What should the nurse do first?

Increase the patient's fluid restriction

Assess vital signs and notify the provider of dehydration signs

Document findings and continue routine care

Administer a diuretic medication

5. Which medication would most likely cause fluid retention and require close I&O monitoring?

Furosemide

Lisinopril

Corticosteroids

Metformin

6. A postoperative patient has a nasogastric tube connected to low suction. How should this fluid loss be recorded in the I&O record?

Not recorded, as it is internal drainage

Measured and recorded as output

Recorded only if the output appears bloody

Estimated and recorded once daily

7. What is the minimum urine output threshold that should be maintained to ensure adequate renal perfusion in adults?

100 mL per hour

30 mL per hour or 0.5 mL per kilogram per hour

500 mL per shift

1,000 mL per day

8. A patient's I&O record shows intake of 1,800 mL and output of 2,500 mL over 24 hours. Which complication is most likely to develop?

Hypervolemia and pulmonary edema

Hypovolemia and acute kidney injury

Hyperkalemia

Metabolic alkalosis

9. When a patient has a urinary catheter, how should urine output be measured and recorded?

Estimated visually without measuring the catheter bag

Measured in a clean calibrated container at each shift and recorded

Recorded only when the bag is completely full

Measured daily instead of each shift

10. Which clinical finding would indicate a negative fluid balance?

Weight gain of 2 pounds overnight

Decreased skin turgor and dry mucous membranes

Elevated blood pressure and edema

Increased urine output without increased intake

11. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of monitoring intake and output in hospitalized patients?

To calculate the patient's daily caloric needs

To maintain accurate fluid balance and detect imbalances early

To determine the patient's medication schedule

To assess the patient's nutritional status

12. What is the normal ratio of fluid intake to output in a healthy adult over 24 hours?

Intake should exceed output by 500 mL

Intake and output should be approximately equal

Output should exceed intake by 1 liter

The ratio varies based on age only

13. A patient is prescribed a fluid restriction of 1,000 mL per day. Which action demonstrates proper nursing implementation?

Allow unlimited fluids and document only the total at end of shift

Distribute the allowed fluids throughout the day and educate the patient on the restriction

Restrict only oral fluids but allow unlimited IV fluids

Restrict fluids only during daytime hours

14. How should you record fluid intake from foods that are liquid at room temperature, such as gelatin or ice cream?

Not recorded, as they are not beverages

Recorded in milliliters equivalent to the volume consumed

Recorded only if the patient is NPO

Recorded as grams instead of milliliters

15. Which patient population requires the most careful intake and output monitoring?

Healthy outpatients

Patients with kidney disease, heart failure, or diabetes

Patients with minor infections

Patients scheduled for routine checkups

16. A patient with congestive heart failure shows a positive fluid balance of 2 liters over 48 hours. What clinical sign would you expect to observe?

Decreased blood pressure

Peripheral edema and pulmonary crackles

Decreased heart rate

Increased urine output

17. When recording fluid intake, how should intravenous fluids be documented?

Not recorded, as they bypass the digestive system

Recorded as the exact milliliter amount infused

Recorded as the prescribed rate only

Recorded only if the patient reports feeling thirsty

18. Which of the following should be included in measuring a patient's fluid output?

Oral intake only

Urine, emesis, diarrhea, and wound drainage

Perspiration only

Intravenous fluids only

19. A patient's 24-hour intake is 2,500 mL and output is 2,200 mL. What does this indicate?

Negative fluid balance of 300 mL

Positive fluid balance of 300 mL

Fluid balance is equal

The patient is dehydrated

I&O Quiz: Can You Track the Balance?