A nurse is caring for a child who has acute glomerulonephritis. Which of the following actions is the nurse’s priority?

Choice A reason: Educating parents about complications like renal failure in acute glomerulonephritis is important for long-term management but is not the priority in acute care. Fluid overload from impaired glomerular filtration causes edema, requiring daily weight monitoring to assess fluid status and guide diuretic therapy, making education secondary in this context. Choice B reason: Daily weight checks are the priority in acute glomerulonephritis, as fluid retention from impaired glomerular filtration causes edema and hypertension. Weight gain indicates worsening fluid overload, guiding diuretic or fluid restriction therapy. This prevents complications like pulmonary edema, making it the most critical nursing action in acute management. Choice C reason: A no-salt-added diet reduces sodium retention in glomerulonephritis, helping manage hypertension and edema. However, it is less urgent than monitoring fluid status via daily weights, which directly assesses fluid overload severity. Dietary changes support treatment but are secondary to tracking weight for timely intervention. Choice D reason: Maintaining a saline lock ensures IV access for potential medications in glomerulonephritis but does not directly address fluid overload, the primary acute concern. Daily weight monitoring better assesses edema and guides therapy to prevent complications like heart failure, making saline lock maintenance a lower priority action.