Exhibits A nurse is caring for a school-age child who is dehydrated. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider? (Click on the exhibit tabs for additional information about the client. There are three tabs that contain separate categories of data.)
Explanation & Rationale
A. Respiratory rate: A respiratory rate of 22/min is within the normal range for a school-age child (18–30/min). This does not suggest acute distress or worsening dehydration, so it does not require reporting. B. Heart rate: A heart rate of 96/min is normal for a school-age child (75–118/min). It does not indicate tachycardia or hypovolemic compromise and therefore is not concerning. C. Capillary refill: A prolonged capillary refill time is a key indicator of poor peripheral perfusion, which can be a sign of moderate to severe dehydration and hypovolemia. This finding suggests that the child is not adequately compensating for their fluid loss. D. Urine output: A urine output of 100 mL in 4 hours is within the expected range for a child of this weight. The normal urine output for a child is approximately 1 mL/kg/hr. For this child (22.7 kg), the expected output would be 22.7 mL/hr. Over 4 hours, this would be 90.8 mL.