Question

A client's admission urinalysis shows the specific gravity value of 1.039. Which of these findings would the nurse expect to find during the physical assessment of this client?

A. Above normal heart rate
B. Moist mucous membranes
C. Poor skin turgor
D. Increased blood pressure

Answer 1

A nurse would expect to find poor skin turgor during the physical assessment of a client with a urine specific gravity value of 1.039, which indicates concentrated urine, typically a sign of dehydration.

Step-by-step explanation:

A client's admission urinalysis shows the specific gravity value of 1.039. A specific gravity that high suggests that the urine is concentrated, typically due to less water in the urine, which is most often a result of dehydration. In such a scenario, during a physical assessment, a nurse might expect findings that are consistent with dehydration.

Dehydration commonly presents with poor skin turgor, which is an indicator of the skin's elasticity and often decreases when the body's hydration levels are low. The skin does not snap back rapidly when pinched up into a fold but instead stands up ("tents") or slowly falls back into place. Other potential physical assessment findings in a person with dehydration can include above normal heart rate (tachycardia), dry or moist mucous membranes, and sometimes increased blood pressure, although blood pressure may also be normal or low depending on the severity and the compensatory mechanisms in place.