Dehydration
Assess fluid losses and intake, distinguish dehydration from shock and plan reassessment.
Clinical learning outcomes: Awaiting named clinical review.
What you should learn
- Describe evidence of fluid deficit and its severity.
- Explain why age, comorbidity and perfusion affect the rehydration plan.
Recognise and explain
- Adult and paediatric assessment and treatment pathways differ.
On your placement
Agree the activity and supervision with the clinical team. For patient-facing learning, seek permission and respect the patient’s comfort and care needs.
- Take an intake, loss and urine-output history.
- Assess hydration and perfusion with your supervisor.
- Discuss oral versus IV replacement and review the response.
Start here
MLA: assessing and prescribing intravenous fluids
Assess the need for fluids, discuss the prescription and plan reassessment.
Current guidance
NICE CG174: IV fluids in adults
Use the adult assessment and reassessment sections to discuss why fluids are needed and how their effect will be checked.
NICE CG84: gastroenteritis in under 5s
Review dehydration and rehydration in under 5s with gastroenteritis; distinguish this from adult fluid guidance and other causes of vomiting.
On your next shift
Check whether the planned reassessment actually occurred and what changed.
How this relates to GMC graduate outcomes and the MLA
These are St Emlyn’s learning connections, not a claim that this page covers every national requirement.
Presentations and conditions: Dehydration.
Clinical and professional capabilities: Assessment and clinical reasoning; Recognising limits and seeking help.
St Emlyn’s interpretation of relevant GMC graduate outcomes and MLA themes; these are summary labels, not official topic codes or a complete curriculum.
Explore the student placement programme
Student practice and graduate expectations
About this resource and its review
A St Emlyn’s guide to learning Emergency Medicine during undergraduate placements. It is not an official medical-school or GMC curriculum. Your medical school’s curriculum and assessment requirements take precedence.
National foundations: GMC Outcomes for Graduates, the practical-skills supplement and the MLA content map applying from September 2026.
Framework checked: 8 October 2026. This is a source check, not clinical sign-off.
Clinical learning outcomes: awaiting named clinical review.
The four learning routes are St Emlyn’s groupings. The six interconnected MLA domains remain part of the official content map.