What dietary adjustment should a nurse recommend for a client with full-thickness burns who has lost significant weight since admission?

For a client with full-thickness burns, the body undergoes a hypermetabolic state as it repairs damaged tissue. This increased metabolic demand requires a significant intake of calories and nutrients to support healing. High-protein foods are particularly essential because protein is crucial for rebuilding tissues, healing wounds, and maintaining muscle mass.

Since the client has lost significant weight since admission, enhancing their protein intake can help counteract protein catabolism that occurs in burn injuries and facilitate recovery. Foods such as lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and nuts are excellent sources of protein to recommend.

While other dietary considerations, such as fiber, sugar, and carbohydrates, play a role in overall nutrition, the emphasized need for protein in the context of healing and recovery from significant burns makes high-protein food the most vital recommendation in this scenario.