Which of the following describes a common change in vital signs with dehydration?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $24.99Unlock all

Prepare for the NCLEX exam effectively with our NCLEX Uworld Practice Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with detailed hints and explanations to ensure you're ready for success!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes a common change in vital signs with dehydration?

Explanation:
Dehydration reduces circulating blood volume, causing hypovolemia. With less fluid returning to the heart, preload and stroke volume drop, which can lower blood pressure. To maintain perfusion, the body increases sympathetic activity, leading to a faster heart rate. So the common vital-sign pattern with dehydration is low blood pressure paired with tachycardia. Hypertension wouldn’t align with fluid loss, and normal vitals would miss the expected compensatory response. Hyperthermia with bradycardia is not typical of dehydration.

Dehydration reduces circulating blood volume, causing hypovolemia. With less fluid returning to the heart, preload and stroke volume drop, which can lower blood pressure. To maintain perfusion, the body increases sympathetic activity, leading to a faster heart rate. So the common vital-sign pattern with dehydration is low blood pressure paired with tachycardia.

Hypertension wouldn’t align with fluid loss, and normal vitals would miss the expected compensatory response. Hyperthermia with bradycardia is not typical of dehydration.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy