Which of the following should be monitored continuously during trauma care?

Monitoring cardiac rhythm continuously during trauma care is essential due to the potential for life-threatening arrhythmias that can arise from hypovolemia, shock, or direct cardiac injury. In trauma situations, the rapid assessment of the heart's electrical activity provides critical information regarding a patient's hemodynamic status and response to treatment. Obtaining real-time data can allow healthcare providers to swiftly identify any immediate threats to the patient’s cardiovascular stability and intervene appropriately.

In contrast, monitoring a patient's appetite, skin temperature, or response to rehabilitation is not immediately relevant to the acute management of trauma. While these factors can be important in ongoing patient care and recovery, they do not require continuous monitoring in the critical care setting, where the focus is on managing life-threatening conditions that can arise from traumatic injuries.