The nurse is caring for a patient who has had diarrhea for the past week. Which additional assessment finding should the nurse expect?

Choice A reason: Blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg indicates hypertension, not directly related to prolonged diarrhea. Diarrhea causes fluid loss, leading to hypotension or normal blood pressure, not elevated readings, making this an unlikely finding for a patient with dehydration from diarrhea. Choice B reason: Abdominal distention is less likely with diarrhea, which typically reduces bowel contents. Distention may occur in conditions like bowel obstruction, not fluid loss from diarrhea, making this an incorrect expected finding for this patient’s condition. Choice C reason: Tenting of the skin, indicating poor skin turgor, is expected with prolonged diarrhea due to dehydration from fluid and electrolyte loss. This physical sign reflects reduced tissue hydration, making it a key assessment finding for a patient with ongoing diarrhea. Choice D reason: A heart rate of 62 beats/min is normal and not expected in diarrhea, which causes tachycardia due to dehydration and compensatory sympathetic activation. A low or normal heart rate is inconsistent with fluid loss, making this an incorrect finding.