Nurses can assess hydration status through various techniques: - Physical Examination: Look for signs like dry mouth, sunken eyes, and poor skin turgor. - Vital Signs: Check for elevated heart rate and low blood pressure, which may indicate dehydration. - Laboratory Tests: Blood tests can reveal elevated levels of electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. - Urine Output: Monitoring urine color and volume can provide clues about hydration. Dark urine often indicates dehydration.
