A nurse cares for a client who has burn injuries. The client's ...

[jlmhmf]

A nurse cares for a client who has burn injuries. The client's wife asks, When will his high risk for infection decrease? How should the nurse respond?
 
  a. When the antibiotic therapy is complete.
  b. As soon as his albumin levels return to normal.
  c. Once we complete the fluid resuscitation process.
  d. When all of his burn wounds have closed.

Question 2

A nurse reviews the laboratory results for a client who was burned 24 hours ago. Which laboratory result should the nurse report to the health care provider immediately?
 
  a. Arterial pH: 7.32
  b. Hematocrit: 52
  c. Serum potassium: 6.5 mEq/L
  d. Serum sodium: 131 mEq/L

[joechoochoy]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Intact skin is a major barrier to infection and other disruptions in homeostasis. No matter how much time has passed since the burn injury, the client remains at high risk for infection as long as any area of skin is open. Although the other options are important goals in the client's recovery process, they are not as important as skin closure to decrease the client's risk for infection.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The serum potassium level is changed to the degree that serious life-threatening responses could result. With such a rapid rise in potassium level, the client is at high risk for experiencing severe cardiac dysrhythmias and death. All the other findings are abnormal but do not show the same degree of severity; they would be expected in the emergent phase after a burn injury.

[jlmhmf]

Excellent

[ktidd]

Gracias!