The nurse cares for an older adult client with dry mucus membranes and cracked lips. What action should the nurse take first?

A. Encouraging the client to increase fluid intake may be appropriate, but it is not the first action. Before interventions, the nurse must assess the extent of dehydration to determine appropriate care and prevent complications like fluid overload or electrolyte imbalance. B. Notifying the healthcare provider may be necessary depending on the assessment findings, but it is not the initial step. The nurse must first collect objective data to guide clinical decision-making. C. Assessing skin turgor over the abdomen is a traditional method for evaluating hydration, but in older adults, skin loses elasticity, making abdominal turgor less reliable. This may lead to underestimation or overestimation of dehydration severity. D. Assessing skin turgor at the clavicle (or sternum) is recommended for older adults, as these areas are less affected by age-related changes in skin elasticity. Checking skin turgor here provides a more accurate assessment of hydration status, helping guide subsequent interventions such as fluid administration or provider notification.