During assessment, which urinary output should cause a nurse to be concerned about dehydration in a school-age child?

A urinary output of 1 mL/kg/hr is concerning for dehydration in a school-age child. The normal range for urinary output in children varies, but generally, a healthy level is around 1 to 2 mL/kg/hr. When a child is dehydrated, fluid intake is inadequate to maintain normal kidney function, leading to lower urinary output.

A urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr raises the most significant concerns as it indicates a severe deficit in hydration, and the body is conserving water due to inadequate fluid levels. However, 1 mL/kg/hr, while still on the lower side, may suggest that the child is at risk for dehydration, indicating a need for further hydration assessment and possible intervention.

The other outputs of 2 mL/kg/hr and 3 mL/kg/hr fall well within the expected healthy range, suggesting that the child's hydration status is more stable in those scenarios. Monitoring urinary output is crucial in managing and assessing hydration status, especially in a pediatric setting.