A nurse is collecting data from a 3-year-old child who has acute diarrhea and dehydration. Which of the following findings indicates that oral rehydration therapy has been effective?

Choice A reason: A respiratory rate of 24/min is normal for a 3-year-old but does not specifically indicate rehydration success. Dehydration may cause tachypnea due to acidosis, but a normal rate is non-specific. Urine specific gravity better reflects fluid status, as it directly measures renal response to rehydration in diarrhea. Choice B reason: Urine specific gravity of 1.015 indicates normal hydration, as kidneys produce appropriately concentrated urine after rehydration therapy corrects fluid loss in diarrhea. Values above 1.020 suggest persistent dehydration. This finding confirms effective restoration of fluid balance, making it the best indicator of successful oral rehydration in this child. Choice C reason: Capillary refill greater than 3 seconds indicates poor perfusion, suggesting ongoing dehydration despite therapy. Effective rehydration restores perfusion, reducing refill time to less than 2 seconds. This finding suggests therapy failure, making it an incorrect indicator of successful oral rehydration in a child with diarrhea. Choice D reason: A heart rate of 130/min suggests tachycardia, indicating persistent dehydration or stress in a 3-year-old, where normal rates are 80-120/min. Effective rehydration lowers heart rate by restoring volume. Urine specific gravity better confirms hydration status, making tachycardia an incorrect indicator of therapy success.