Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 70%
Simulated
A nurse is assessing a client who has had diarrhea for several days. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
The correct answer is B: Dehydration. Diarrhea leads to fluid loss, causing dehydration. The body loses electrolytes and water, leading to symptoms like dry mouth, decreased urine output, and thirst. Decreased bowel sounds (A) are not specific to diarrhea. A rigid abdomen (C) may indicate severe complications like bowel obstruction, not typical in diarrhea. Hypothermia (D) is not directly associated with diarrhea. In summary, dehydration is the most common and expected finding in a client with diarrhea.