Ivy Tech Fundamentals of Nursing Test 1 Practice

Dry mucous membranes signal dehydration because reduced body fluids lead to dryness of oral tissues. In older adults, thirst may not be as noticeable, so this physical sign becomes a practical clue to a fluid deficit. Edema points to fluid overload, not dehydration. Bradycardia isn’t typical of dehydration—low fluid volume usually causes the heart to beat faster (tachycardia) to maintain circulation. Hypertension reflects higher blood pressure, not the reduced circulating volume seen with dehydration. So the presence of dry mucous membranes best indicates dehydration.