What should a nurse tell a client with deep partial-thickness burns to watch for as a sign to seek medical attention?

In the context of deep partial-thickness burns, the priority for nursing care includes monitoring for signs of potential complications and changes in the patient’s condition. A decrease in urinary output is a critical indicator that warrants immediate medical attention. This can signal inadequate kidney perfusion, which could arise from a systemic response to the burn, including shock or fluid loss. The kidneys may begin to conserve fluid as a compensatory mechanism, leading to reduced urine output, which can escalate to acute kidney injury if not addressed promptly.

Monitoring urinary output is vital in burn patients because burns can lead to fluid shifts and loss. If the body is not properly hydrated or is undergoing significant fluid loss due to a burn injury, it can lead to complications like renal failure or systemic infection. Therefore, advising the patient to be vigilant about urine output can help catch these issues early and require immediate assessment and intervention.

The other signs, while they are worth monitoring, do not have the same level of urgency related to the complications that can arise from deep partial-thickness burns. For instance, headaches and skin irritation may not reflect critical physiological changes stemming from the burn injury itself, while ineffective pain relief could indicate inadequate pain management but may not demand urgent medical intervention in the same manner as changes in urinary