A nurse is assisting with the care of a 2-year-old child. Click to highlight the findings that indicate the child has progressed. To deselect a finding, click on the finding again. Day 3, 0900: Weight Bowel pattern Sodium level Respiratory rate Urine specific gravity Skin turgor Heart rate

Rationale for correct choices: • Weight: The child’s weight increased from 9.5 kg on day 2 to 10.2 kg on day 3, surpassing the admission weight of 10 kg. This indicates successful rehydration and restoration of fluid balance. Weight gain is a reliable objective marker of improvement in pediatric dehydration. • Bowel pattern: The child’s stools changed from six watery stools on day 2 to two formed stools on day 3. This reflects resolution of diarrhea and recovery of gastrointestinal function. Normalization of bowel movements indicates that electrolyte and fluid losses have been addressed effectively. • Urine specific gravity: Urine specific gravity decreased from 1.031 on admission to 1.018 on day 3. This reflects improved hydration status and kidney perfusion, as urine is less concentrated. Monitoring urine concentration helps evaluate the effectiveness of fluid replacement therapy. • Skin turgor: Skin turgor improved from 2 seconds to less than 1 second and appears consistent with the child’s baseline. This indicates restored hydration and effective fluid therapy. Normal skin turgor demonstrates recovery from extracellular fluid deficit. • Heart rate: The heart rate decreased from a tachycardic 116/min on Day 2 to 100/min on Day 3. A stable, lower heart rate indicates that the circulatory volume is adequate and the heart no longer needs to overcompensate for low blood volume. Rationale for incorrect findings: • Sodium level: Sodium remained within normal range (138 mEq/L), so while stable, it does not specifically indicate improvement beyond baseline. • Respiratory rate: Respiratory rate remained mildly elevated at 26 breaths/minute; it shows stability but does not directly indicate recovery from dehydration.