The nurse is caring for a burn patient. Because of the amount of stress the patient is experiencing, the nurse realizes that the patient would benefit from which intervention?

Question

1. An increase in activity
2. An increased supply of protein
3. Fluid restriction
4. Antinausea medication

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: Increased activity is not a good stress-relieving option for this patient at this time.
Rationale 2: In the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal response to stress, the body stimulates the production of cortisol. Cortisol stimulates protein catabolism. The patient with burns undergoing surgery is experiencing a significant level of stress and would benefit from protein supplementation.
Rationale 3: Fluid restriction is not useful for the patient coping with severe stress. Patients who have been burned need fluid resuscitation, not restriction.
Rationale 4: The patient may need antinausea medication for another reason, but not as a treatment for stress.