The nurse is caring for a patient who has a pelvic fracture and an external fixation device.
How should the nurse perform assessment of pressure areas and provide skin care to the patient's back and sacrum?

Choice B rationale

Potassium levels should be reviewed before administering furosemide. Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause significant potassium loss through increased urine output. Monitoring potassium is crucial to prevent hypokalemia, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and other serious complications.

Choice A rationale

Bicarbonate levels are not directly impacted by furosemide use and are less critical to review in this context. While they are important in assessing acid-base balance, they are not the primary concern when administering furosemide.

Choice C rationale

Phosphate levels are not typically affected by furosemide and are not the main focus before administration. Monitoring phosphate might be important in other scenarios, but it is not directly relevant here.

Choice D rationale

Carbon dioxide levels are more relevant to respiratory function and acid-base balance but are not directly impacted by furosemide. The focus should be on monitoring electrolytes, particularly potassium, to prevent complications from diuretic therapy.

Choice A rationale

A complete blood count (CBC) can provide information about the client's overall health and presence of infection, but it does not specifically address the potential underlying cause related to the urinary system.

Choice B rationale

Urinalysis with culture is the most relevant diagnostic test for evaluating the underlying cause of fever, chills, and severe left costovertebral pain. These symptoms suggest a possible urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis, which can be confirmed with urinalysis and culture.

Choice C rationale

A chest X-ray would not be the priority in this scenario as the symptoms suggest a urinary tract issue rather than a respiratory problem. A chest X-ray is more useful for assessing lung conditions.

Choice D rationale

A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis can be helpful in evaluating the extent of a urinary tract infection or identifying other causes of abdominal pain, but it is typically not the first-line diagnostic test. Urinalysis with culture is more specific for identifying urinary infections. .