The nurse developing a plan of care for a patient in sickle cell crisis includes "administer oral and intravenous (IV) fluids as ordered" as an intervention.
What is the rationale for this intervention?

a. Private room (away from other infectious patients)
b. IV fluids decrease blood viscosity and clumping of sickled red blood cells.
c. Sickling dramatically decreases the life span of affected RBCs.
d. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) machines may be ordered for patients with sickle cell disease.