A client with a burn injury has been prescribed silver nitrate. ...

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A client with a burn injury has been prescribed silver nitrate. The appropriate nursing intervention for the client is to:
 
  1. Monitor daily weight.
   2. Prepare to change the dressings every two hours.
   3. Report black skin discolorations.
   4. Push fluid intake.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a client medically diagnosed with early osteoporosis whose family has asked what actions will help the client to slow the process of the disease. Which intervention by the nurse is most applicable for this client?
 
  1. Institute an exercise plan that includes weight-bearing activities
   2. Decrease the amount of calcium in the client's diet
   3. Protect the client's bones with strict bed rest
   4. Provide the client with assisted range of motion exercising twice daily

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Answer to Question 1

1. Monitor daily weight.

Rationale:
Silver nitrate can result in hypotonicity, or hypotonic osmotic pressure. Manifestations of hypotonicity include weight gain and edema, which can be monitored by daily weights. Changing the dressing every 2 hours is too frequent for the client. Black discolorations in the skin are anticipated for clients using silver nitrate and do not indicate a complication of therapy. Silver sulfadiazine, not silver nitrate, administration can result in the development of sulfa crystals in the urine.

Answer to Question 2

1. Institute an exercise plan that includes weight-bearing activities

Rationale:
Osteoporosis is a demineralization of the bone in which calcium leaves the bone matrix. One causative factor is lack of weight-bearing activity. Weight bearing helps to move calcium back into the bone, thereby strengthening them. A standard intervention for those attempting to prevent or reverse osteoporosis is beginning an exercise plan that includes weight-bearing activities. Strict bed rest may well make the osteoporosis worse because there is no weight-bearing activity. Calcium in the diet is increased with osteoporosis. Assisted range of motion exercises are not weight bearing and do not help delay or reverse osteoporosis.