What value for urine specific gravity should a nurse expect in a child who has experienced diarrhea for 24 hours?

In children who have experienced diarrhea for an extended period, such as 24 hours, the body is likely to become dehydrated. Diarrhea can lead to significant fluid loss, which results in more concentrated urine. Urine specific gravity is a measure of the concentration of solutes in urine—higher values indicate more concentrated urine due to dehydration.

A specific gravity of 1.035 is indicative of concentrated urine, which is expected in this scenario. Normal urine specific gravity typically ranges from 1.005 to 1.030. Values above this range, such as 1.035, suggest that the child may be experiencing oliguria or dehydration due to fluid loss from diarrhea. This concentration shows the kidneys are conserving water in response to the decreased fluid intake and increased output.

The other values presented would typically not reflect the concentration expected in a child who is dehydrated from diarrhea. A specific gravity of 1.000 would indicate very dilute urine, suggesting excessive fluid intake or renal issues, while values of 1.050 indicate extreme concentration, which may not be commonly seen unless in severe dehydration situations.