Nurses use several methods to assess a patient's hydration status:
Physical Examination: Checking for signs like dry mouth, sunken eyes, and decreased skin turgor. Vital Signs: Monitoring blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. Urine Output: Evaluating the volume, color, and specific gravity of urine. Laboratory Tests: Analyzing blood and urine samples for electrolyte levels, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine.
