Final answer:
A nurse may suspect a client is experiencing dehydration if lab results show high serum osmolality, increased hematocrit, elevated serum electrolytes, especially sodium, and low urine output. Symptoms such as confusion, low blood pressure, and excessive thirst match with clinical signs of dehydration, which can be caused by a variety of factors including diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive sweating.
Step-by-step explanation:
When reviewing a client's lab results, a nurse may suspect dehydration if there are findings such as a high serum osmolality, indicating concentrated blood due to water loss. Additionally, increases in hematocrit and serum electrolytes like sodium can also signal dehydration, as these are more concentrated when there is less fluid in the bloodstream. Furthermore, the nurse may observe low urine output with a high concentration, which can be another sign of the body conserving water in response to dehydration. Common causes of dehydration include excessive water loss due to sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, or diuretic use, and can be characterized by symptoms like thirst, low blood pressure, dizziness, and in severe cases, confusion.
The patient arriving with a blood pressure of 70/45, feeling confused, and complaining of thirst, the nurse would rightly be concerned about dehydration. This is especially true when considering the patient's potential history of factors that contribute to dehydration such as prolonged watery diarrhea, which can be deduced from the patient's reports or lab assessments indicating hyponatremia or an abnormal increase in hematocrit and serum electrolyte levels.