A nurse is caring for a client who has burn injuries covering their upper body and is concerned about their altered appearance. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

Choice A Reason

4g sodium diet. While reducing sodium intake is important for managing chronic kidney disease (CKD), a specific 4g sodium diet is not typically prescribed. Instead, patients are generally advised to limit sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams per day to help control blood pressure and reduce fluid retention.

Choice B Reason

Potassium-restricted diet. This is the correct intervention. Patients with CKD often have difficulty excreting potassium, leading to hyperkalemia, which can be dangerous. Therefore, a potassium-restricted diet is commonly recommended to maintain normal serum potassium levels.

Choice C Reason

High-phosphorus diet. This statement is incorrect. Patients with CKD are usually advised to limit phosphorus intake because their kidneys cannot effectively excrete phosphorus, leading to hyperphosphatemia. High phosphorus levels can cause bone and cardiovascular problems.

Choice D Reason

High-protein diet. This statement is incorrect. While protein is essential, excessive protein intake can increase the workload on the kidneys. Patients with CKD are often advised to follow a moderate protein diet to reduce the production of waste products that the kidneys need to filter.

Choice A Reason

Increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a marker of inflammation and is commonly elevated in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. However, it is not a direct adverse effect of NSAID therapy. NSAIDs are more likely to cause gastrointestinal issues, such as bleeding, which would be detected by a fecal occult blood test.

Choice B Reason

Elevated creatinine clearance is not typically associated with NSAID use. In fact, NSAIDs can potentially reduce kidney function, leading to decreased creatinine clearance. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Choice C Reason

Increased serum potassium levels can occur with NSAID use, especially in patients with compromised kidney function. However, this is less common compared to gastrointestinal bleeding, which is a more direct and frequent adverse effect of NSAID therapy.

Choice D Reason

Positive fecal occult blood test is the correct answer. NSAIDs can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, which can be detected through a fecal occult blood test. This is a well-documented adverse effect of NSAID therapy and is a significant concern for patients on long-term NSAID treatment.