Question

A nurse is assessing a client's hydration status. Which of the following findings indicates fluid volume overload?

A) Sunken fontanelles in an infant.
B) Decreased urine output.
C) Pitting edema in the lower extremities.
D) Hypotension.

Answer 1

Pitting edema in the lower extremities indicates fluid volume overload when assessing a client's hydration status, this is choice C.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse assessing a client's hydration status and identifying signs of fluid volume overload would most likely observe pitting edema in the lower extremities. This is choice C) Pitting edema in the lower extremities. Pitting edema is a clinical sign where pressing a finger into the skin of someone with edema leads to a persistent indentation. It indicates excess fluid accumulation in the subcutaneous tissues. This finding is often related to conditions that cause fluid retention, such as heart failure, kidney failure, or liver disease. Other options, such as sunken fontanelles, decreased urine output, and hypotension, generally suggest dehydration or other states of reduced fluid volume in the body, not overload.