Practice Question
A nurse is caring for a 3-year-old child who was admitted with acute diarrhea and dehydration. Which of the following findings indicates that oral rehydration therapy has been effective?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Urine specific gravity 1.015
Rationale:
🟡 Urine specific gravity of 1.015 indicates normal hydration status, showing that the child is effectively absorbing fluids from oral rehydration therapy.
🟡 The urine specific gravity measures how concentrated the urine is, and this value is within the normal range (1.005–1.030), suggesting improvement in hydration and fluid balance.
🟡 As the child becomes rehydrated, the kidneys will start to concentrate the urine, reflecting effective fluid therapy.
🟡 Oral rehydration therapy works by replenishing lost fluids and electrolytes, and a normal urine specific gravity shows that the therapy has been successful in restoring fluid balance.
🟡 This is the most immediate indicator of successful rehydration compared to other parameters.
Heart rate 130/min
🟡 Heart rate of 130/min is still elevated. Tachycardia can occur with dehydration, and while it may start to improve with rehydration, it is not the best indicator of fluid balance.
🟡 A decrease in heart rate would be expected over time as dehydration is corrected, but it does not reflect immediate rehydration status.
Capillary refill greater than 3 seconds
🟡 Capillary refill greater than 3 seconds is a sign of poor perfusion and dehydration, indicating that the child is still not fully rehydrated.
🟡 A capillary refill time of less than 2 seconds would indicate adequate hydration, so a longer refill time is not an indicator of improvement.
Respiratory rate 24/min
🟡 A respiratory rate of 24/min is within the normal range for a 3-year-old child, but it does not directly indicate the effectiveness of oral rehydration therapy.
🟡 Although breathing rates can be influenced by hydration, the urine specific gravity provides a more accurate reflection of rehydration status.
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This question is from Custom NUR 2241 Pediatric Final Exam which contains 40 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Pediatrics
- Answer Choices: 4