After radiation treatment, a client reports dryness, redness, and scaling of his skin occurring within the designated radiation treatment markings. The nurse should instruct the client to take which of the following actions?

A. Hypotension: Hypotension is a common sign of hemorrhage. It occurs due to significant blood loss leading to decreased circulating blood volume and reduced cardiac output, which in turn lowers blood pressure. In the context of postoperative care, hypotension is a critical sign that may indicate internal bleeding.

B. Diaphoresis: Diaphoresis (excessive sweating) can be an autonomic response to acute blood loss and shock. The body tries to compensate for reduced blood volume and pressure by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which results in sweating as part of the body's effort to maintain perfusion to vital organs.

C. Tachypnea: Tachypnea (rapid breathing) is a compensatory mechanism in response to decreased oxygen delivery due to blood loss. The body increases respiratory rate to improve oxygen uptake and delivery to tissues, which is vital when there is reduced blood volume from hemorrhage.

D. Bradycardia: Bradycardia (slow heart rate) is not typically associated with hemorrhage. Instead, hemorrhage usually causes tachycardia (rapid heart rate) as the body attempts to maintain cardiac output and compensate for the loss of blood volume. Bradycardia could indicate other issues such as increased intracranial pressure or a vagal response but is not a common sign of acute hemorrhage.

E. Diarrhea: Diarrhea is not a sign of hemorrhage. It is more commonly associated with gastrointestinal issues such as infections, inflammatory bowel diseases, or reactions to medications. Hemorrhage typically affects cardiovascular parameters rather than causing gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea.

A. Impaired skin integrity - While the patient does have skin issues due to ulcerations, the root cause is impaired perfusion. Addressing the impaired tissue perfusion will help improve skin integrity.

B. Alteration in activity tolerance - Although the patient might experience reduced activity tolerance due to the heaviness and discomfort, it is not as critical as ensuring adequate tissue perfusion.

C. Impaired tissue perfusion - This diagnosis is the priority because varicose veins and ulcerations with lower extremity edema suggest that there is poor blood flow to the tissues, which can lead to further complications such as worsening ulcerations and potential infection. Effective tissue perfusion is critical to healing and preventing further deterioration.

D. Alteration in body image - This is a valid concern for the patient but is not as immediate or life-threatening as impaired tissue perfusion and the potential for complications from poor circulation.