The practical nurse (PN) is caring for an older client who is receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer. Which finding is the highest priority for the PN to report to the charge nurse?

Reference ranges:

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): [Adult: 10 to 20 mg/dL or 3.6 to 7.1 mmol/L] Platelets: [150,000 to 400,000/mm3 or 150 to 400 x 10^9/L]

The correct answer is choice D - Bilateral lung sounds.

Choice A rationale:

Heart sounds. While assessing heart sounds is crucial, the question specifically mentions complications of left-sided heart failure, which primarily affects the lungs. Therefore, assessing lung sounds is a higher priority in this situation.

Choice B rationale:

Mood and affect. While assessing the client's mood and affect is important for holistic care, it is not the most critical assessment to implement first in the case of left-sided heart failure complications.

Choice C rationale:

Chest pain. Although chest pain may be a symptom of left-sided heart failure complications, assessing bilateral lung sounds takes precedence as it directly relates to the client's respiratory status.

Choice D rationale:

Bilateral lung sounds. In left-sided heart failure, fluid can accumulate in the lungs, leading to pulmonary congestion and impaired gas exchange. Therefore, assessing lung sounds helps identify any respiratory distress early on, allowing prompt intervention and prevention of further complications.

The correct answer is Choice D

Choice A: Excruciating pain

• Rationale: While partial thickness burns can be painful, especially in the first few days, excruciating pain is less likely for a stable patient 3 days post-burn. Pain management is a crucial aspect of burn care, but excruciating pain might indicate deeper burns or complications like infection.

Choice B: Elevated blood pressure

• Rationale: Elevated blood pressure is not a typical complication of a partial thickness burn. In fact, burn patients are more at risk for hypotension (low blood pressure) due to fluid loss.

Choice C: Compartment syndrome

• Rationale: Compartment syndrome is a serious complication that typically occurs with deep burns or traumatic injuries. It's caused by increased pressure within a muscle compartment, restricting blood flow and potentially leading to tissue death. While a possibility, it's less likely for a partial thickness burn 3 days after the injury.

Choice D: Curling's Ulcer

• Rationale: Curling's ulcer is a peptic ulcer (stomach ulcer) that can develop as a complication of major burns. This is because burns trigger a massive inflammatory response, releasing stress hormones that increase stomach acid production, making the stomach lining more susceptible to ulcers. Given the extensive burn area (30% TBSA) and the timeframe (3 days post-burn), Curling's ulcer becomes a significant concern.

Therefore, the correct answer is: Choice D: Curling's Ulcer

Explanation:

• A 30% TBSA partial thickness burn is a significant injury that triggers a systemic inflammatory response.
• Three days post-burn falls within the timeframe when Curling's ulcer can develop due to the increased stress hormones and gastric acid production.
• While pain management and monitoring for compartment syndrome are important, Curling's ulcer poses a more significant threat in this scenario.