Final answer:
To evaluate a therapeutic response to dopamine in a client with septic shock, the nurse should monitor the urinary output, which indicates improved blood flow and kidney function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse plans to administer a low-dose prescription of dopamine to a client who is in septic shock. The appropriate physiological parameter that the nurse should use to evaluate a therapeutic response to dopamine is C. Urinary output.
In the setting of septic shock, where there is a profound decrease in circulatory system efficiency, dopamine works to improve blood flow to the kidneys, among other organs, which can be measured by an increase in urinary output. This increase signifies restored kidney function and, by extension, improved blood flow and circulatory system performance. A urine output of at least 1 mL/kg body weight/hour indicates a positive therapeutic response. While other options like pupil response, heart sounds, and temperature are valuable signs, they are not primary parameters to assess for a therapeutic response to dopamine in septic shock.