A nurse is evaluating a client who is 70 years old for signs of dehydration.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Increased skin turgor.
Decreased pulse rate
Increased urine output.
Decreased mental status.
The Correct Answer is D
The correct answer is D.
Decreased mental status. Dehydration in elderly people can cause confusion, disorientation, or drowsiness due to the loss of water and electrolytes from the body.
These symptoms can affect the cognitive function and alertness of the client. Dehydration can also lead to complications such as kidney problems, electrolyte imbalances, or low blood pressure.
Choice A is wrong because increased skin turgor is not a sign of dehydration.
Skin turgor is the ability of the skin to return to its normal shape after being pinched or pulled. Dehydration causes decreased skin turgor, meaning the skin stays tented or wrinkled after being pinched.
Choice B is wrong because decreased pulse rate is not a sign of dehydration. Dehydration causes increased pulse rate, as the heart has to work harder to pump blood to the vital organs when there is less fluid in the body.
Choice C is wrong because increased urine output is not a sign of dehydration. Dehydration causes decreased urine output, as the kidneys try to conserve water and produce more concentrated urine.
The urine may also be darker in color than normal.
Normal ranges for fluid intake and output vary depending on age, weight, activity level, and health status.
However, a general guideline is to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day and produce at least 30 mL of urine per hour.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The correct answer is D.
All of the above.
This is because all of these findings indicate that the client has experienced an improvement in mood, energy, appetite, sleep, interest and participation in social activities and hobbies, which are common signs of depression recovery.
Choice A is wrong because it only covers some of the symptoms of depression, such as mood, energy, appetite and sleep, but not others, such as interest and participation in social activities and hobbies.
Choice B is wrong because it only measures the client’s depression level using standardized scales, such as the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) or the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), but not their actual functioning and quality of life.
Choice C is wrong because it only reflects the client’s interest and participation in social activities and hobbies, which are important aspects of depression recovery, but not their mood, energy, appetite, sleep or depression level.
The GDS and the PHQ-9 are both valid and reliable tools for screening and measuring depression in older adults.
The GDS is a 15-item questionnaire that asks the client to answer yes or no to questions about their mood, satisfaction, hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, guilt, agitation, withdrawal and suicidal thoughts.
The PHQ-9 is a 9-item questionnaire that asks the client to rate how often they have experienced symptoms of depression in the past two weeks, such as depressed mood, anhedonia, insomnia or hypersomnia, fatigue, appetite or weight changes, concentration problems, feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
A. The client reports an improvement in mood, energy, appetite and sleep B.
The client scores lower on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) or the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) C.
The client shows more interest and participation in social activities and hobbies D.
All of the above
Correct Answer is ["A","D","E"]
Explanation
The correct answer isA, D, and E.
Here is why:.
A. Elevated white blood cell count.
This is a sign of infection and inflammation in the body, which can be caused by a UTI.An elevated white blood cell count can also indicate a complication of UTI such as pyelonephritis (kidney infection) or sepsis (blood infection).
D. Altered mental status.
This is a common symptom of UTI in older adults, especially those with dementia or other cognitive impairments.UTIs can cause confusion, agitation, delirium, or behavioral changes in the elderly due to the effects of infection and inflammation on the brain.
E. Positive urine culture.
This is the definitive test to diagnose a UTI, as it identifies the type and number of bacteria present in the urine.A positive urine culture confirms the presence of a UTI and guides the appropriate antimicrobial treatment.
The other choices are wrong because:.
•.
B. Decreased serum creatinine level.
This is not a sign of UTI or its complications.
Serum creatinine is a measure of kidney function, and it usually increases when the kidneys are damaged or impaired.A decreased serum creatinine level may indicate other conditions such as liver disease, muscle wasting, or malnutrition.
•.
C. Increased urine specific gravity.
This is not a sign of UTI or its complications.
Urine specific gravity is a measure of urine concentration, and it usually increases when the body is dehydrated or has high levels of solutes in the urine.An increased urine specific gravity may indicate other conditions such as diabetes mellitus, heart failure, or dehydration.
Normal ranges for some of these tests are:.
• White blood cell count: 4,000 to 11,000 cells per microliter (mcL) of blood.
• Serum creatinine: 0.6 to 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) for men and 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL for women.
• Urine specific gravity: 1.005 to 1.030.
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