A nurse is performing an admission assessment on a client. Which finding should the nurse identify as an indication that the client is dehydrated?

Choice A reason: Blood pressure of 178/90 mm Hg indicates hypertension, not dehydration. Dehydration typically leads to lower blood pressure due to reduced blood volume. Choice B reason: Jugular vein distention is often associated with fluid overload or heart failure rather than dehydration. It indicates increased central venous pressure, which is not consistent with dehydration. Choice C reason: A heart rate of 50 (bradycardia) is not a typical sign of dehydration. Dehydration usually leads to an increased heart rate (tachycardia) as the body attempts to maintain cardiac output with reduced blood volume. Choice D reason: Skin tenting present is a classic sign of dehydration. When the skin is pinched and remains tented, it indicates a lack of fluid in the tissues, which is a reliable clinical indicator of dehydration.