A nurse is caring for a client who has hypernatremia. Which of the following IV solutions should the nurse plan to administer?

A. Lactated Ringer’s contains sodium and electrolytes similar to plasma; it is isotonic and not suitable for correcting hypernatremia, as it won’t lower sodium concentration. B. 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) is isotonic and may worsen hypernatremia by maintaining or increasing sodium levels. C. 3% sodium chloride is hypertonic and used to treat hyponatremia, not hypernatremia. Administering this would dangerously increase sodium levels. D. 0.45% sodium chloride (half-normal saline) is hypotonic and helps move water into cells, diluting extracellular sodium and safely lowering serum sodium concentration.