What nursing assessment finding indicates volume overload in CKD with edema?

• A. Edema With Crackles On Lung Auscultation and Weight Gain
• B. Hyperkalemia
• C. Hypotension
• D. Bradycardia

Answer: (A)

Volume overload in CKD shows itself as excess fluid in the body, which manifests most clearly as edema and signs of fluid in the lungs. When the kidneys can’t excrete sodium and water effectively, fluid accumulates in the interstitial spaces, producing peripheral edema. If this fluid shifts into the lungs, auscultation reveals crackles, indicating pulmonary interstitial edema. Coupled with a measurable weight gain from the added fluid, these findings together point to hypervolemia rather than changes in electrolytes or heart rate alone.

Hyperkalemia reflects impaired potassium excretion, not fluid status. Hypotension can occur for reasons other than fluid overload (and may even suggest under-resuscitation or other issues), and bradycardia is not a primary sign of volume overload.