How to assess hydration status
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
No single sign tells hydration. Put several together.
Step by step
History
Intake, vomiting, diarrhea, urine output, thirst. [1]
Vital signs
Fast pulse, low blood pressure, orthostatic drop. [1]
Mouth and eyes
Dry mouth and lips, sunken eyes. [1]
Skin
Turgor under the collarbone, capillary refill. [1]
Urine and weight
Color, amount, daily weight change. [1]
Overload signs
Edema, crackles, raised neck veins. [1]
Common errors
- Relying on skin turgor in older adults.
- Not checking orthostatic signs.
- Missing fluid overload.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
- OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills (CC BY 4.0)
Steps adapted from Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) and OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills, licensed under CC BY 4.0. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.