Chapter 53: Nursing Management: Patient's with Burns

Acticoat antimicrobial barrier dressings used in the treatment of burn wounds can be left in place for which time frame?

5 days Explanation: Acticoat antimicrobial barrier dressings can be left in place for up to 5 days thus helping to decrease discomfort to the client, decrease costs of dressing supplies, and decrease nursing time involved in burn dressing changes.

A client is brought to the ED with burns exceeding 20% of total body surface area. Which is the primary nursing intervention in the care of this client

Fluid resuscitation Explanation: Fluid resuscitation requirements are paramount in the management of clients having burns that exceed 20% of TBSA. Fluid resuscitation with crystalloid and colloid solutions is calculated from the time the burn injury occurred to restore the intravascular volume and prevent hypovolemic shock and renal failure. Infection prevention is a care consideration with all burns. Endotracheal tube placement may be necessary if respiratory factors indicate the need. Intake and output records are maintained to determine the success of fluid resuscitation efforts.

A client recovering from burn injuries over both forearms reports itching of the wounds. Which action will the nurse take to enhance the client's comfort?

Instruct to pat and not scratch the areas. Explanation: Post-burn pruritus (itching) affects almost all clients with burns and is one of the most distressing symptoms in the post-burn period. The client should be instructed to "pat, don't scratch" in order to prevent further discomfort and infectious complications. Other actions to reduce the itching include oral antipruritic agents, environmental conditions, frequent lubrication of the skin with water or silica-based lotion, and diversion activities. Warm compresses will enhance the itching. Elevating the extremities above the level of the heart helps reduce edema. Pain medication is not used to treat pruritis.

The nurse is caring for a patient who sustained a full-thickness burn to his arm when he was scalded with boiling water. How did the nurse determine that the patient's burns are full-thickness burns?

Identification by the destruction of the dermis and epidermis Explanation: Third-degree (full-thickness) burns involve total destruction of the epidermis and dermis and, in some cases, destruction of underlying tissue. Second-degree burns are associated with blister formation.

The triage nurse in the emergency department (ED) receives a phone call from a frantic father who saw his 4-year-old child tip a pot of boiling water onto her chest. The father has called an ambulance. What would the nurse in the ED receiving the call instruct the father to do?

Immerse the child in a cool bath. Explanation: After the flames or heat source has been removed or extinguished, the burned area and adherent clothing are soaked with cool water briefly to cool the wound and halt the burning process. Cool water is the best first-aid measure and is a priority over not touching the burn. Lotions and ice are not put on the burn.

Which of the following is the analgesic of choice for burn pain?

Morphine sulfate Explanation: Morphine sulfate remains the analgesic of choice. It is titrated to obtain pain relief on the patient's self-report of pain. Fentanyl is particularly useful for procedural pain, because it has a rapid onset, high potency, and short duration, all of which make it effective for use with procedures. Demerol and Tylenol with codeine are not analgesics of choice for burn pain.

A client has a third-degree burn on the leg. The wound is being treated by the open method. After about 4 days, a hard crust has formed around the leg and is impairing the circulation to the leg. What procedure would be done to relieve pressure on the affected area?

escharotomy Explanation: Debridement is the removal of necrotic tissue. An escharotomy is an incision into the eschar to relieve pressure on the affected area. An allograft would not be the treatment. Silvadene may be part of the treatment regimen but not specifically for this situation.

At the scene of a fire, the first priority is to prevent further injury. What are interventions at the site that can help to prevent injury? Select all that apply.

Place the client in a horizontal position. Roll the client in a blanket to smother the fire. If the clothing is on fire, the client is placed in a horizontal position and rolled in a blanket to smother the fire.

Which antimicrobials is not commonly used to treat burns?

Tetracycline Silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene), mafenide (Sulfamylon), and silver nitrate (AgNO3) 0.5% solution are the three major antimicrobials used to treat burns.

Which of the following fluid or electrolyte changes occur in the emergent/resuscitative phase?

Reduction in blood volume Explanation: A reduction in blood volume occurs secondary to plasma loss. Sodium deficit, potassium excess, and decreased urinary output occurs in this phase.

A nurse suspects that a client with a severe burn injury may be developing abdominal compartment syndrome. Which intervention would the nurse anticipate being used to confirm this suspicion?

intra-bladder pressure monitoring Explanation: To assess for the development of abdominal compartment syndrome, the intra-bladder pressure may be monitored. The other types of monitoring would not be used to determine abdominal compartment syndrome.

The emergency department nurse has just admitted a patient with a burn. The nurse recognizes that the patient is likely to require a nasogastric tube when the burn exceeds a total body surface area (TBSA) of what percentage?

25% Explanation: If the burn exceeds 25% TBSA, a nasogastric tube is inserted and connected to low intermittent suction. Often, patients with large burns become nauseated as a result of the gastrointestinal effects of the burn injury, such as paralytic ileus and the effects of medication such as opioids. All patients who are intubated should have a nasogastric tube inserted to decompress the stomach and prevent vomiting.

An emergency department nurse is evaluating a client with partial-thickness burns to the entire surfaces of both legs. Based on the rule of nines, what is the percentage of the body burned?

36% Explanation: According to the rule of nines, the anterior portion of the lower extremity is 9% and the posterior portion of the lower extremity is 9%. Each lower extremity is therefore equal to 18%. Both lower extremities that have sustained burns to entire surfaces will equal to 36% of total surface area.

The nurse observes for fluid and electrolyte changes during the acute phase based on the knowledge that fluid remobilization usually begins:

After 48 to 72 hours later, when fluid is moving from the interstitial to the intravascular compartment. Explanation: When fluid shifts back to the intravascular compartment, a number of electrolyte changes can occur. Refer to Table 53-4 in the text.

Which type of burn injury involves destruction of the epidermis and upper layers of the dermis as well as injury to the deeper portions of the dermis?

Deep partial-thickness Explanation: A deep partial-thickness burn involves destruction of the epidermis and upper layers of the dermis as well as injury to deeper portions of the dermis. In a superficial partial-thickness burn, the epidermis is destroyed or injured and a portion of the dermis may be injured. Capillary refill follows tissue blanching. Hair follicles remain intact. A full-thickness burn involves total destruction of epidermis and dermis and, in some cases, destruction of underlying tissue, muscle, and bone. Although the term fourth-degree burn is not used universally, it occurs with prolonged flame contact or high voltage injury that destroys all layers of the skin and damages tendons and muscles.

A client with a burn injury is in acute stress. Which of the following complications is prone to develop in this client?

Gastric ulcers Explanation: The release of histamine as a consequence of the stress response increases gastric acidity. The client with a burn is prone to develop gastric (Curling's) ulcers. Anemia develops because of the heat destroying the erythrocytes. Release of histamine does not cause hyperthyroidism or cardiac arrest.

The nurse is caring for a client who has sustained severe burns to 50% of the body. The nurse is aware that fluid shifts during the first week of the acute phase of a burn injury cause massive cell destruction. What should the nurse report if it occurs immediately after burn injury?

Hyperkalemia Explanation: Immediately after burn injury, hyperkalemia (excessive potassium) may result from massive cell destruction. Hypokalemia (potassium depletion) may occur later with fluid shifts and inadequate potassium replacement. During burn shock, serum sodium levels vary in response to fluid resuscitation. Hyponatremia (serum sodium depletion) may be present as a result of plasma loss. Hyponatremia may also occur during the first week of the acute phase, as water shifts from the interstitial space and returns to the vascular space.

Which of the following is to be expected soon after a major burn? Select all that apply.

Hypotension Tachycardia Anxiety Tachycardia, slight hypotension, and anxiety are expected soon after the burn.

The nurse receives a client following a serious thermal burn. Which complication will the nurse take action to prevent first?

Hypovolemia Explanation: Reference: Honan, L., Focus on Adult Health: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 2nd ed., Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer, 2019, Chapter 53: Nursing Management: Patients With Burn Injury, p. 1494.

Following a burn injury, the nurse determines which area is the priority for nursing assessment?

Pulmonary system

A client who has sustained burns to the anterior chest and upper extremities is brought to the burn center. During the initial stage of assessment, which nursing diagnosis is primary?

Risk for Impaired Gas Exchange Explanation: During the initial assessment of a burn victim, the nurse must look for evidence of inhalation injury. Once oxygen saturation and respirations are determined, pain intensity is evaluated. The assessment of damage to the tissues and prevention of infection are secondary to airway issues.

A client receiving emergency treatment for severe burns has just been assessed to establish the burn depth. Why is a nurse asked to reassess the burn depth after 72 hours?

The early appearance of the burn injury may change. Explanation: The nurse is required to reassess and revise the estimate of burn depth because the early appearance of the burn injury may change. Assessing the burn depth helps determine the potential of the damaged tissue to survive. It does not establish the percentage of the TBSA that is burned or minimize the risk of infections. It also does not help determine whether the client's condition is likely to deteriorate after 72 hours.

When the area of burn is irregular in shape and is scattered over multiple areas of the body, which is the best method for the nurse to obtain a quick assessment of the total body surface area of the burn?

Use client's palm size Explanation: A quick assessment technique to use to evaluate an area of burn that is not restricted to one portion of the body is by using the client's palm size to approximate the total body surface. The palm is approximately 1% of a person's TBSA. The Parkland formula determines fluid resuscitation needs. Lund and Browder burns assessment provides a more precise estimate for determining TBSA that is burned and is especially more specific in children. The rule of nines quantitates burns that involve entire sections of the body, not scattered burns.

The emergency department (ED) team is conducting immediate care of a patient admitted with burns estimated at 40% total body surface area. The nurse in the ED and the other members of the team are aware of the need to customize the rate of fluid resuscitation and will base this rate on what data?

Vital signs and urine output Explanation: Because of the risks associated with invasive monitoring, traditional variables of hourly assessment of urinary output and vital signs are used to evaluate the adequacy of fluid replacement therapy in burn patient.

The most important intervention in the nutritional support of a client with a burn injury is to provide adequate nutrition and calories. The nurse recognizes this intervention is to promote

decreased catabolism. Explanation: Burn injuries produce profound metabolic abnormalities fueled by the exaggerated stress response to the injury. The body's response has been classified as hyperdynamic, hypermetabolic, and hypercatabolic. The most important intervention in the nutritional support of a client with a burn injury is to provide adequate nutrition and calories to decrease catabolism. Nutritional support with optimized protein intake can decrease the protein losses by approximately 50%. A marked increase in metabolic rate is seen after a burn injury and interventions are instituted to decrease metabolic rate and catabolism. A marked increase in glucose demand is seen after a burn injury and interventions are instituted to decrease glucose demands and catabolism. Rapid skeletal muscle breakdown with amino acids serving as the energy source is seen after a burn injury and interventions are instituted to decrease catabolism.