In a client with chronic heart failure, which prescription should the nurse question?

In the context of a client with chronic heart failure, the prescription of a maintenance IV line of 0.9% normal saline at 85 mL/h should be questioned due to the potential for fluid overload. Patients with chronic heart failure often have compromised cardiac function, leading to issues with fluid retention. Administration of normal saline, which is isotonic and can contribute to increased intravascular volume, could exacerbate this condition and result in worsened heart failure symptoms, such as pulmonary edema or increased blood pressure.

In contrast, the other prescribed options align with the management of chronic heart failure. Furosemide is a diuretic used to help remove excess fluid from the body, potassium chloride may be given to prevent hypokalemia (a common side effect of diuretics), and a sodium-restricted diet is a standard recommendation to help control fluid retention and manage heart failure effectively. Thus, the IV line of normal saline is a critical prescription to evaluate, as it could lead to detrimental outcomes for the patient by increasing fluid overload.