The nurse is reviewing the lab results for a female client diagnosed with diverticulitis. The patient reports excessive diarrhea. Which lab values does the nurse anticipate to support the diagnosis of fluid volume deficit for this patient? Directions: Drag and drop your choices from the Possible Answers in the left box to the Selected Answers box on the right to indicate your selected answers. More than one choice may be selected.

A. BUN-25 mg/dL (reference range 10-20): An elevated BUN can indicate hemoconcentration due to reduced plasma volume from fluid loss. In patients with excessive diarrhea, the kidneys retain urea to conserve water, making elevated BUN a sensitive marker of fluid volume deficit. B. Chloride-108 mEq/L (97-107 mEq/L): A slightly elevated chloride is not a primary indicator of fluid volume deficit. While electrolyte imbalances can occur with diarrhea, chloride levels alone are less sensitive than BUN, hematocrit, or urine concentration in reflecting dehydration. C. Urine specific gravity-1.045 (reference range 1.010-1.030): High urine specific gravity indicates concentrated urine, reflecting the kidneys’ attempt to conserve water due to hypovolemia. This is a direct marker of fluid volume deficit and correlates with dehydration from diarrhea. D. Potassium-5.1 mEq/L (reference range 3.5-5.0 mEq/L): Although potassium can fluctuate with diarrhea, a mildly elevated potassium is not a definitive indicator of fluid volume deficit. Hypokalemia is more commonly associated with fluid loss from diarrhea rather than hyperkalemia. E. Hematocrit 48% (reference range 38-47%): An elevated hematocrit reflects hemoconcentration due to plasma volume loss. In the context of diarrhea, it supports the presence of dehydration and fluid volume deficit. F. Serum osmolality-270 mOsm/L (reference range 275-300 mOsm/L): Low serum osmolality indicates diluted plasma rather than dehydration. In fluid volume deficit, serum osmolality typically increases as water is lost relative to solutes, so this value does not support hypovolemia.