Relias Medical Surgical Telemetry RN A Practice Test

The main idea is that diuretic therapy in an elderly patient can cause volume depletion and orthostatic hypotension, leading to dizziness, weakness, and an increased risk of falling. Furosemide removes fluid from the body, which can lower blood pressure, especially when standing or moving from bed to chair. In an 80-year-old with pneumonia and heart failure, sensitivity to fluid shifts is higher, and dehydration or electrolyte disturbances from diuresis (like low potassium or sodium) can worsen balance and coordination. While pneumonia could worsen or antibiotics could have side effects, the immediate safety concern here is fall risk from hemodynamic instability and weakness. So preventing falls—monitoring blood pressure in different positions, ensuring slow position changes, and assessing for dehydration signs—addresses the most pressing risk in this scenario.