A nurse is collecting data from a client who has heart failure and is taking furosemide. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the medication is effective?
Explanation & Rationale
Furosemide works by promoting diuresis, which helps to reduce fluid volume overload in heart failure. Increased urinary output indicates that the medication is effectively removing excess fluid from the body. This can help alleviate symptoms such as edema and fluid retention commonly associated with heart failure. Therefore, an increased urinary output is a positive response to furosemide therapy in this context. Decreased BUN (blood urea nitrogen) levels and weight loss are also expected outcomes of diuretic therapy, further indicating the effectiveness of the medication. However, a decreased hemoglobin level is not directly related to the efficacy of furosemide and might be indicative of other factors such as anemia or bleeding, requiring further assessment and intervention.