What is a common complication of extensive third-degree burns that nurses need to monitor?

A common complication of extensive third-degree burns that nurses need to monitor is hypothermia. Third-degree burns, which extend through the full thickness of the skin, result in the loss of skin's protective barrier and thermoregulation function. The skin plays a crucial role in maintaining body temperature by serving as an insulator and helping to regulate heat loss.

When extensive areas of the skin are burned, the body's ability to retain heat is severely compromised, increasing the risk of hypothermia. This is particularly critical in burn patients, who may also be exposed to cold environments or may have undergone fluid resuscitation that can alter their temperature stability. Hypothermia can lead to further physiological complications and may impair wound healing, so ongoing monitoring and interventions to maintain normothermia are vital in the care of burn patients.

Monitoring for other changes in metabolic status and serum levels, such as hyperglycemia due to stress response or electrolyte imbalances like hyperkalemia, is also essential, but the immediate risk associated with extensive third-degree burns and the disruption of body temperature regulation makes hypothermia a primary concern.