A nurse is teaching a patient diagnosed with psoriasis about disease management. Which statement made by the patient indicates a correct understanding of the condition?

A. Weigh the patient daily to monitor fluid balance. Daily weights are useful for tracking fluid shifts but are not the priority in the acute phase of burn management.

B. Monitor urine output to ensure at least 30 mL/hr. Urine output is a key indicator of adequate fluid resuscitation. A minimum of 30 mL/hr ensures proper kidney perfusion and prevents hypovolemia or fluid overload.

C. Assess for signs of fluid deficit such as lung crackles and engorged neck veins. Crackles and neck vein distension indicate fluid overload, not deficit. While monitoring for overload is important, urine output is the best immediate indicator of effective fluid resuscitation.

D. Administer only colloid solutions within the first 8 hours post-burn. Crystalloids (e.g., Lactated Ringer’s) are the primary fluids used in the first 24 hours post-burn. Colloids are typically introduced later.

A. The surgical dressing has a small amount of serosanguinous drainage. Light serosanguinous drainage is expected postoperatively and does not require immediate intervention.
B. The patient’s hemoglobin dropped from 12 g/dL to 10 g/dL within 24 hours postoperatively. A mild drop in hemoglobin postoperatively is expected due to blood loss during surgery. This does not require immediate intervention.
C. The patient reports mild discomfort at the surgical site and rates pain as 4/10 on a pain scale. Mild discomfort is expected and can be managed with prescribed analgesics.
D. The surgical extremity is cool to touch, pale, with weak pedal pulses compared to the contralateral limb. These findings indicate impaired circulation or vascular compromise, which could suggest compartment syndrome or arterial occlusion. Immediate intervention is required to prevent limb ischemia.