Fluid Resuscitation: A Case Study

The immediate concern for T.J are the ABC’s (airway,breathing, circulation) and preserving vital organ functioning (Silvestri, 2017). The priority nursing actions are to assess for airway patency, administer oxygen as prescribed to perfuse tissues and organs, obtain vital signs (as well as carboxyhemoglobin levels) to assess a baseline and compare subsequent vital signs once fluid resuscitation is initiated, initiate an IV line and begin fluid replacement as prescribed to prevent hypovolemic shock, elevate the extremities if no fractures are obvious to assist in preventing shock, keep her warm and place T.J her on and NPO status because of altered gastrointestinal function that results from a burn injury (Silvestri, 2017). A foley catheter may be inserted so that the response to the fluid resuscitation can be monitored (Silvestri, 2017). The nurse should stay with the patient and monitor TJ’s status closely. Administering pain medications IV route to treat pain (5th vital sign) is also a priority (Silvestri, 2017).. …show more content…
The amount of fluid administered depends on how much IV fluid per hour is required to main urinary output of 30-50 mL/hour (Silvestri, 2017). Fluid resuscitation indicated depends on the what the HCP prescribes but common fluid resuscitation formulas for the first 24 hours after a burn injury are as follows:

Modified Brooke: 5% albumin in isotonic saline, lactated ringer’s (LR) without dextrose. Amount: 0.5% to 15mL/kg/% TBSA burn.

Parkland (Baxter): Crystalloid only (LR). Amount 4 mL/kg/% TBSA burn.

Modified Parkland: Crystalloid only (LR). Amount 4 mL//kg/% TBSA burn +15 mL/m2 of