Final answer:
A Patient Care Technician should reference the Fluid balance chart to find a patient's recorded intake and output. This chart holds specific data on fluids consumed and expelled, while other documents like the MAR, Nursing care plan, and Physician's orders are used for different purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a Patient Care Technician (PCT) needs to find a patient's recorded intake and output, they should reference the Fluid balance chart. This chart is a part of the patient's medical record that specifically tracks the amount of fluid a patient takes in (oral and intravenous fluids) and the amount they eliminate (through urine, vomit, sweat, and other bodily fluids). The Medication Administration Record (MAR) is used to record medications given to a patient, not fluid intake/output. A Nursing care plan outlines the care that nurses and healthcare professionals plan to provide to a patient and may include information about fluid management, but it does not specifically track detailed intake and output data. Lastly, Physician's orders may include instructions for fluid intake or output monitoring, but again, do not serve as the chart for recorded data.