Which client information is most important for the practical nurse (PN) to consider when providing instructions to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) about providing morning care to a postoperative client?

The correct answer isChoice B.

Choice B rationale:

The practical nurse (PN) should instruct the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to keep the client's skin clean and dry. Proper skin care is essential for a client with urinary and fecal incontinence to prevent the development of pressure ulcers. Keeping the skin clean and dry helps reduce moisture-related skin breakdown.

Choice A rationale:

Encouraging the client to rest quietly in bed is not directly related to preventing pressure ulcers. While adequate rest is essential for overall health, it does not specifically address the risk of pressure ulcers in an incontinent client.

Choice C rationale:

Obtaining supplies for contact precautions is unrelated to the client's risk of developing a sacral pressure ulcer. Contact precautions are used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and do not address skin integrity.

Choice D rationale:

Documenting any changes in skin integrity is important, but it is the responsibility of the healthcare team, including the PN. However, this response does not provide proactive measures to prevent the pressure ulcer from occurring in the first place, which is the primary concern in this situation.

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.