Definition of Dehydration – Nursing is a profession within the healthcare sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other healthcare providers by their approach to patient care, training, and scope of practice. Nurses practice in many specialisms with differing levels of prescriber authority.
Many nurses provide care within the ordering scope of physicians, and this traditional role has shaped the public image of nurses as care providers. However, nurses are permitted by most jurisdictions to practice independently in a variety of settings depending on training level. In the postwar period, nurse education has undergone a process of diversification towards advanced and specialized credentials, and many of the traditional regulations and provider roles are changing.
Nurses develop a plan of care, working collaboratively with physicians, therapists, the patient, the patient’s family, and other team members, that focus on treating illness to improve quality of life. Nurses may help coordinate the patient care performed by other members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team such as therapists, medical practitioners, and dietitians. Nurses provide care both interdependently, for example, with physicians, and independently as nursing professionals.
Definition of Dehydration
Dehydration is defined as excessive loss of body water.
Or,
In physiology, dehydration is a deficit of total body water with an accompanying disruption of metabolic processes. Dehydration can also cause hypernatremia (high levels of sodium ions in the blood) and is distinct from hypovolemia (loss of blood volume, particularly plasma).
Types of Dehydration:
1. No signs of dehydration.
2. Some dehydration.
3. Severe dehydration.
Assessment of Dehydration:
| Points | No signs of dehydration. | Some dehydration. | Severe dehydration. |
| Look at condition | Well, alert | Restless, irritable | Lethargic or unconscious, floppy |
| Eyes | Normal | Sunken | Very sunken and dry |
| Tears | Present | Absent | Absent |
| Mouth and tongue | Moist | Dry | Very dry |
| Thirst | Drinks normally, not thirsty | Thirsty, drinks eagerly | Drinks poorly or unable to drink |
| Feel: Skin pinch | Goes back quickly | Goes back slowly | Goes back very slowly |
| Decide: | The patient has no signs of dehydration. | If the patient has two or more sings including at least one sign, there is some dehydration. | If the patient has two or more signs including at least one sign, there is severe dehydration. |
Signs of dehydration:
- Increased thirst
- Dry mouth
- Tired or sleepy
- Decreased urine output
- Urine is low volume and more yellowish than normal
- Headache
- Dry skin
- Dizziness
- Few or no tears
- Decrease skin turgor (elasticity).
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