For a patient who has received excessive intravenous fluid and has reduced oxygen saturation, what nursing action should be taken first?

In the scenario presented, the first action a nurse should take for a patient who has received excessive intravenous fluid and has reduced oxygen saturation is to restrict fluids. This is important because excessive fluid can lead to fluid overload, which may cause pulmonary edema and compromise respiratory function. When a patient is experiencing reduced oxygen saturation, addressing the cause of fluid overload immediately can help improve their oxygenation.

By restricting fluids, the nurse is directly intervening to reduce the volume of fluid in the circulatory system, which can alleviate potential edema in the lungs and enhance respiratory gas exchange. This action is foundational in managing the patient's condition and facilitating a prompt recovery of oxygen levels.

While oxygen therapy and diuretics are important considerations in the treatment of this patient, they are secondary actions that can follow the initial step of controlling fluid intake. Deep breathing exercises can also be beneficial but would not directly address the immediate issue of excess fluid affecting oxygen saturation. Therefore, fluid restriction stands as the most critical first nursing intervention in this scenario.