A nurse is assessing a client who has dehydration. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.)

Choice A reason:

This statement is correct. Fluids and electrolytes help transport nutrients and oxygen to the cells by maintaining blood volume and pressure. They also help maintain the acid-base balance of the blood and other body fluids.

Choice B reason:

This statement is correct. Fluids and electrolytes help regulate body temperature by allowing heat to be distributed evenly throughout the body and by facilitating sweating, which cools the body. They also help lubricate the joints by providing synovial fluid, which reduces friction and inflammation.

Choice C reason:

This statement is correct. Fluids and electrolytes help digest food by providing saliva, gastric juice, bile, pancreatic juice, and intestinal secretions, which break down food and absorb nutrients. They also help excrete wastes from the body by forming urine, feces, sweat, and breath, which eliminate excess fluids, electrolytes, toxins, and carbon dioxide.

Choice D reason:

This statement indicates a need for further teaching. Fluids and electrolytes do not help increase body fat or lower blood pressure. Body fat is determined by the balance between calorie intake and expenditure, not by fluid intake. Blood pressure is influenced by many factors, such as cardiac output, vascular resistance, blood volume, and hormone levels, not by fluid intake alone. Fluid intake can affect blood pressure only if it causes overhydration or dehydration, which are both abnormal conditions that should be avoided.

Choice A reason:

Decreased skin turgor is a sign of dehydration because the skin loses elasticity when the body loses water. The nurse can assess this by pinching the skin on the back of the hand or the forehead and observing how quickly it returns to its normal position. If it takes longer than a few seconds, it indicates decreased skin turgor.

Choice B reason:

Increased heart rate is a sign of dehydration because the heart has to work harder to pump blood when the blood volume is low. The body also tries to compensate for the fluid loss by increasing the heart rate and constricting the blood vessels.

Choice C reason:

Crackles in the lungs are not a sign of dehydration, but rather a sign of fluid overload or pulmonary edema. Crackles are caused by fluid accumulation in the alveoli, which interferes with gas exchange and produces a crackling sound when breathing. This choice is incorrect.

Choice D reason:

Low urine output is a sign of dehydration because the kidneys try to conserve water by producing less urine. The urine also becomes more concentrated and darker in color when the body is dehydrated.

Choice E reason:

Dry mucous membranes are a sign of dehydration because the body loses moisture from the mouth, nose, and eyes when it is dehydrated. The nurse can assess this by looking at the lips, tongue, and oral cavity for dryness and cracking.