A nurse is monitoring a client who was admited with a severe burn injury and is receiving IV fluid resuscitation therapy. The nurse should identify a decrease in which of the following findings as an indication of adequate fluid replacement?

Choice A Reason: Infection is a serious complication of burn injuries, but not the priority risk for assessment and intervention. The nurse should monitor the client's wound healing, temperature, white blood cell count, and signs of sepsis, and administer antibiotics as prescribed. However, these measures are secondary to ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

Choice B Reason: Airway obstruction is the priority risk for assessment and intervention for a client who has burns of the head, neck, and chest. The nurse should assess the client's airway patency, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, breath sounds, and signs of respiratory distress, such as stridor, wheezes, or cyanosis. The nurse should also provide humidified oxygen, suction secretions, elevate the head of the bed, and prepare for endotracheal intubation if needed. Airway obstruction can occur due to edema, inflammation, or inhalation injury of the upper airway, and can quickly lead to hypoxia, respiratory failure, and death.

Choice C Reason: Paralytic ileus is a potential complication of burn injuries, but not the priority risk for assessment and intervention. The nurse should assess the client's bowel sounds, abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, and stool output, and administer fluids, electrolytes, and nutritional support as prescribed. However, these measures are secondary to ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

Choice D Reason: Fluid imbalance is another potential complication of burn injuries, but not the priority risk for assessment and intervention. The nurse should assess the client's fluid status, urine output, vital signs, weight, and serum electrolytes, and administer intravenous fluids as prescribed. However, these measures are secondary to ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation.

Choice A Reason: This choice is incorrect because hypomagnesemia is not a common finding in the oliguric phase of acute kidney injury. Hypomagnesemia is a condition in which the serum magnesium level is lower than normal (less than 1.5 mEq/L). It may be caused by various factors such as malnutrition, diarrhea, diuretics, or alcohol abuse. It may cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, tremors, tetany, or cardiac arrhythmias.

Choice B Reason: This choice is correct because hyperkalemia is a common finding in the oliguric phase of acute kidney injury. Hyperkalemia is a condition in which the serum potassium level is higher than normal (more than 5 mEq/L). It may be caused by reduced renal excretion of potassium due to decreased urine output (oliguria). It may cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, paresthesia, bradycardia, or cardiac arrest.

Choice C Reason: This choice is incorrect because decreased creatinine level is not a common finding in the oliguric phase of acute kidney injury. Creatinine is a waste product of muscle metabolism that is filtered by the kidneys and excreted in urine. A normal creatinine level ranges from 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL for men and 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL for women. In acute kidney injury, creatinine level usually increases due to reduced renal function and impaired clearance of creatinine.

Choice D Reason: This choice is incorrect because increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is not a common finding in the oliguric phase of acute kidney injury. GFR is a measure of how well

the kidneys filter blood and remove waste products.

A normal GFR range is 90,to 120 mL/min/1.73 m2. In acute kidney injury, GFR usually decreases due to reduced blood flow,to,the kidneys or damage to the glomeruli, which are the tiny blood vessels that filter blood in the kidneys.