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Factors Affecting Body Fluid, Electrolyte Fluid Imbalances
Factors Affecting Body Fluid, Electrolyte Fluid Imbalances ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is assessing a client who has dehydration. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Decreased hematocrit is not a finding of dehydration, but rather of overhydration or hemodilution. Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the blood volume. When the blood volume is reduced due to dehydration, the hematocrit increases, not decreases.
Increased urine specific gravity is a finding of dehydration, as it indicates that the urine is more concentrated due to less water in the body. Urine specific gravity is a measure of the density of urine compared to water. Normal urine specific gravity ranges from 1.005 to 1.030. When the body is dehydrated, the kidneys reabsorb more water and produce less urine, resulting in higher urine specific gravity.
Decreased serum sodium is not a finding of dehydration, but rather of hyponatremia or low sodium level in the blood. Serum sodium is the amount of sodium in the blood plasma. Normal serum sodium ranges from 135 to 145 mEq/L. When the body is dehydrated, the serum sodium increases, not decreases, because there is less water to dilute the sodium concentration.
Increased capillary refill time is a finding of dehydration, as it indicates that the blood flow to the peripheral tissues is impaired due to low blood volume. Capillary refill time is the time it takes for the color to return to the nail bed after applying pressure. Normal capillary refill time is less than 3 seconds. When the body is dehydrated, the blood pressure drops and the heart rate increases to maintain adequate perfusion to vital organs, resulting in longer capillary refill time.
Choice A reason:
Decreased hematocrit is not a finding of dehydration, but rather of overhydration or hemodilution. Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the blood volume. When the blood volume is reduced due to dehydration, the hematocrit increases, not decreases.
Choice B reason:
Increased urine specific gravity is a finding of dehydration, as it indicates that the urine is more concentrated due to less water in the body. Urine specific gravity is a measure of the density of urine compared to water. Normal urine specific gravity ranges from 1.005 to 1.030. When the body is dehydrated, the kidneys reabsorb more water and produce less urine, resulting in higher urine specific gravity.
Choice C reason:
Decreased serum sodium is not a finding of dehydration, but rather of hyponatremia or low sodium level in the blood. Serum sodium is the amount of sodium in the blood plasma. Normal serum sodium ranges from 135 to 145 mEq/L. When the body is dehydrated, the serum sodium increases, not decreases, because there is less water to dilute the sodium concentration.
Choice D reason:
Increased capillary refill time is a finding of dehydration, as it indicates that the blood flow to the peripheral tissues is impaired due to low blood volume. Capillary refill time is the time it takes for the color to return to the nail bed after applying pressure. Normal capillary refill time is less than 3 seconds. When the body is dehydrated, the blood pressure drops and the heart rate increases to maintain adequate perfusion to vital organs, resulting in longer capillary refill time.