Final answer:
Hypervolemia, or fluid volume overload, is indicated by symptoms such as edema and elevated blood pressure, not orthostatic hypotension, which is a sign of hypovolemia or dehydration. The patient with low blood pressure, confusion, and thirst is likely experiencing dehydration, which is characterized by a decrease in blood volume.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fluid volume overload, also known as hypervolemia, is a medical condition where there is an excessive accumulation of fluids in the body's circulatory system. This situation can arise due to various causes such as heart failure, liver cirrhosis, kidney disease, hyperaldosteronism, or as a side effect of certain glucocorticoid steroid treatments. A nurse assessing a patient for hydration status would typically look for signs such as swelling or edema, elevated blood pressure, an increase in jugular venous pressure, and sometimes pulmonary congestion.
Contrarily, orthostatic hypotension is not an indicator of hypervolemia but rather hypovolemia, where there is a drop in blood pressure upon standing due to a low blood volume. Symptoms of hypervolemia include confusion and thirst, as the body attempts to deal with the balance of solutes and fluids within the system. In the context of the said patient with blood pressure 70/45, confusion, and thirst, this suggests dehydration, which leads to decreased blood volume—opposite of fluid volume overload.