A nurse is caring for a client who has an electrical burn. With the client’s permission, the nurse is answering questions from the family about his status.

Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A. Pallor:

Pallor refers to an unusually pale or white skin color. It is often associated with reduced blood flow, anemia, or shock. Pallor is characterized by a lack of the normal rosy color of the skin.

B. Jaundice:

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes due to an excess of bilirubin in the blood. It can be associated with liver dysfunction or other conditions affecting the normal breakdown and elimination of bilirubin.

C. Cyanosis:

Cyanosis is a bluish-gray discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by a decrease in oxygen levels in the blood. It can result from various conditions affecting oxygenation, such as respiratory or circulatory problems. In the context of a broken leg, cyanosis on the affected leg could suggest compromised blood flow or oxygenation.

D. Erythema:

Erythema refers to redness of the skin, often due to increased blood flow to the area. It can be a normal response to irritation, injury, or inflammation. Unlike bluish-gray discoloration seen in cyanosis, erythema is characterized by a red appearance.

A. Mutually establish desired outcomes of the plan of care:

While establishing desired outcomes is an important part of the nursing process, nursing diagnoses themselves do not necessarily focus on mutually establishing these outcomes. Nursing diagnoses help identify health problems and needs, which then guide the development of outcomes during the planning phase.

B. Guide selection of nursing interventions to meet expected outcomes:

This is the correct answer. Nursing diagnoses help determine the specific needs and problems a patient is facing. Once identified, nursing interventions can be chosen to address these needs and work towards achieving expected outcomes.

C. Establish a database of information for future comparison:

Establishing a database of information is more related to the assessment phase of the nursing process. Nursing diagnoses are formulated based on the analysis of the collected data and serve to guide subsequent steps in the nursing process, particularly planning and intervention.

D. Evaluate the effectiveness of the established plan of care:

Evaluating the effectiveness of the established plan of care is part of the later stages of the nursing process. Nursing diagnoses help in planning and implementing interventions, and evaluating their effectiveness comes after these interventions have been carried out.