A nurse is providing fluid replacement therapy to a dehydrated child.
What should the nurse do to ensure comprehensive care during the treatment and management of dehydration in children?

Choice A rationale:

"The child's favorite foods and beverages" are not relevant when assessing dehydration.

While dietary habits are essential for overall health, they do not provide information about the child's hydration status.

Choice B rationale:

"The child's school attendance and activities" are unrelated to the assessment of dehydration.

School attendance and activities are important for a child's social and educational development but do not provide any insight into the child's fluid balance or hydration status.

Choice C rationale:

"The child's skin turgor and mucous membranes" are crucial indicators of dehydration during physical examination.

Poor skin turgor, where the skin tents or remains elevated after being pinched, suggests decreased tissue elasticity due to fluid loss.

Dry mucous membranes, including the mouth, indicate dehydration.

These signs provide immediate visual clues about the child's hydration status and guide further assessment and intervention.

Choice D rationale:

"The child's vaccination history" is not relevant to the assessment of dehydration.

While vaccination history is essential for preventive healthcare, it does not provide any information about the child's current hydration status or fluid balance.

Communicate with the healthcare team.

To ensure comprehensive care during the treatment and management of dehydration in children, communication with the healthcare team is essential.

Here's the rationale for this choice:

Choice A rationale:

Administer electrolyte solutions only.

This is not The correct approach.

While administering electrolyte solutions is a vital part of managing dehydration, it is not the only aspect of care.

Comprehensive care also includes assessing the child's overall condition, monitoring vital signs, and addressing any underlying causes of dehydration.

Choice B rationale:

Communicate with the healthcare team.

This is The correct answer.

Dehydration management often requires a multidisciplinary approach.

Communicating with the healthcare team, which may include physicians, dietitians, and other specialists, is crucial to ensure that the child receives appropriate treatment and that any underlying medical issues are addressed.

It also allows for coordinated care and adjustment of the treatment plan as needed.

Choice C rationale:

Rely solely on clinical signs to assess hydration status.

Relying solely on clinical signs is not sufficient for comprehensive care.

While clinical signs are important indicators of hydration status, laboratory tests and monitoring are also necessary to accurately assess and manage dehydration.

Choice D rationale:

Skip monitoring the child's response to treatment.

Skipping monitoring is not advisable.

Monitoring the child's response to treatment is a critical part of dehydration management.

It helps ensure that the child is improving, and adjustments can be made to the treatment plan if necessary.