A nurse is evaluating a patient who has a stage 1 pressure injury. What findings should the nurse anticipate?

Choice A rationale

0.9% sodium chloride, also known as normal saline, is an isotonic solution that is commonly used for hydration and to replace lost fluids. However, it does not provide any calories or nutrients, which are necessary for patients receiving TPN1.

Choice B rationale

Dextrose 10% in water (D10W) is the recommended solution to administer until the next TPN solution is available. This is a hypertonic fluid that provides dextrose to the patient, helping to maintain their blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of hypoglycemia.

Choice C rationale

3% sodium chloride is a hypertonic saline solution that is typically used to treat patients with severe hyponatremia (low sodium levels). It is not suitable as a replacement for TPN as it does not provide the necessary nutrients and can lead to hypernatremia (high sodium levels) if used inappropriately.

Choice D rationale

Lactated Ringer’s solution is an isotonic solution that is commonly used for fluid resuscitation in patients with significant fluid loss. While it does contain multiple electrolytes that mimic those found in plasma, it does not provide any calories or nutrients, making it unsuitable as a replacement for TPN1.

Choice A rationale

Full thickness skin loss with visible bone is not described in the question. This would be a description of a stage IV pressure ulcer, which involves full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle.

Choice B rationale

Intact skin with localized erythema is not described in the question. This would be a description of a stage I pressure ulcer, which involves intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localized area usually over a bony prominence.

Choice C rationale

Partial-thickness skin loss with red tissue is not described in the question. This would be a description of a stage II pressure ulcer, which involves partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red pink wound bed, without slough.

Choice D rationale

Full thickness skin loss with visible adipose tissue is the condition described in the question. This would be a description of a stage III pressure ulcer, which involves full thickness tissue loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible but bone, tendon, or muscle are not exposed.