Final answer:
The RN should report rebound abdominal tenderness over the right lower quadrant to the healthcare provider as it could signify a condition requiring immediate attention such as appendicitis, which is not characteristic of viral gastroenteritis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The registered nurse (RN) evaluating a client with symptoms of viral gastroenteritis should report the finding of rebound abdominal tenderness over the right lower quadrant to the healthcare provider. This particular sign could indicate a more serious condition such as appendicitis, which requires immediate medical attention. Viral gastroenteritis typically presents with symptoms like watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, but does not usually result in rebound tenderness, which is not characteristic of viral gastroenteritis and thus warrants a thorough investigation by a healthcare provider for potential complications or alternative diagnoses.
Other symptoms like dry mucous membranes and lips, dizziness upon ambulation from a sitting position, and poor skin turgor are commonly associated with dehydration, which is a common complication of gastroenteritis. While these findings are important and need to be managed, they do not suggest an alternative or more serious diagnosis in the same way that rebound tenderness does.