Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) Practice Exam

In adults, urine output is used as a practical indicator of adequate tissue perfusion during resuscitation from hypovolemic shock. The target is 0.5 mL per kilogram of body weight per hour. This level reflects enough renal perfusion to protect kidney function without forcing excessive fluids that can lead to overload. For example, a 60 kg adult should produce about 30 mL per hour, while a 70 kg adult should be around 35 mL per hour.

If urine output stays around or above this target while you continue resuscitation, renal perfusion is likely adequate. If it drops, it suggests insufficient intravascular volume or perfusion and you may need to adjust fluids or other support. The other options are not the standard adult target: 1.0 mL/kg/hr would imply a higher perfusion goal than typically used in adults, 0.25 mL/kg/hr is too low to assure adequate perfusion, and 2.0 mL/kg/hr is excessive and not typical in this context.