South Dakota CNA Level 3 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

In healthcare, output refers to the fluids and substances that leave the body, which are crucial for monitoring a patient’s overall health status. Diarrhea is a significant form of output, as it can indicate a patient's hydration status and electrolyte balance. Measuring diarrhea helps healthcare providers assess potential complications, such as dehydration, which can occur rapidly and require immediate intervention.

While the intake of solid foods and liquid medications is important information to gather, they are not considered outputs. Instead, they fall under the category of intake, which refers to everything that is consumed by the patient. Understanding only output gives a clearer picture of fluid balance and can guide effective treatment and management plans. Therefore, focusing on measuring diarrhea as output is vital for evaluating a patient’s condition effectively.