What is a priority nursing action for a dehydrated patient?

• A. Administer intravenous antibiotics
• B. Start physical therapy
• C. Assess vital signs and intake/output, and initiate fluid replacement as ordered
• D. Record daily weight only

Answer: (D)

In dehydration, the most important step is to quickly assess the patient’s current status and begin correcting the fluid deficit. The first priority is to check vital signs to gauge perfusion and stability, and to monitor intake and output so you can quantify losses and determine severity. This information guides how aggressively to replace fluids and what route to use (oral if mild, intravenous for more significant losses), all per the physician’s orders. Starting fluid replacement helps restore circulating volume and tissue perfusion, which is essential for preventing further decline.

Recording daily weight is valuable for tracking trends and response to therapy over time, but it doesn’t address the immediate need to stabilize the patient or replace fluids. The other options—antibiotics, physical therapy, or recording weight alone—do not address the acute fluid deficit and perfusion concerns.