Mgmt of Burn Injuries
A patient is being discharged after sustaining a deep-partial thickness burn during a house fire. The patient is asking when the burn will be healed. The nurse understands that this type of burn injury heals within which of the following time frames?
2 to 4 weeks
A sample consensus formula for fluid replacement recommends that an isotonic solution be administered in the first 24 hours of a burn in the range of 2 to 4 mL/kg/% of burn with 50% of the total given in the first 8 hours postburn. A 176 lb (80 kg) man with a 30% burn should receive a minimum of how much fluid replacement in the first 8 hours?
2,400 mL
A patient is admitted to a burn treatment center at 2:30 p.m. with full-thickness burns over 40% of his body. The injury occurred at 1:30 p.m. at a paper-making plant. The nurse knows that burn shock has to be prevented or treated. Based on fluid volume shifts, the nurse knows that fluid loss would peak by __________ to __________ hours, with the greatest volume being lost from __________ to__________ hours after the burn.
7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; 24 to 36 hours
The nurse is applying an occlusive dressing to a burned foot. What position should the foot be placed in after application of the dressing?
Adduction
Several temporary and permanent sources are available for covering a burn wound. These may be manufactured synthetically, obtained from a biologic source, or a combination of the two. Select the graft described as the following: a biologic source of skin similar to that of the client.
Allograft
Which of the following measures can be used to cool a burn?
Application of cool water
A patient will be receiving biologic dressings. The nurse understands that biologic dressings, which use skin from living or recently deceased humans, are known by what name?
Homografts
Immediately after a burn injury, electrolytes need to be evaluated for a major indicator of massive cell destruction which is:
Hyperkalemia Circulating blood volume decreases dramatically during burn shock due to severe capillary leak with variation of serum sodium levels in response to fluid resuscitation. Usually, hyponatremia (sodium depletion) is present. Immediately after burn injury, hyperkalemia (excessive potassium) results from massive cell destruction. Hypokalemia (potassium depletion) may occur later with fluid shifts and inadequate potassium replacement.
A child tips a pot of boiling water onto his bare legs. The mother should:
Immerse the child's legs in cool water.
Which of the following is the analgesic of choice for burn pain?
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.
The nurse is caring for a patient who sustained a major burn. What serious gastrointestinal disturbance should the nurse monitor for that frequently occurs with a major burn?
Paralytic ileus Patients who are critically ill, including those with burns, are predisposed to altered gastrointestinal (GI) motility for many reasons, which may include impaired enteric nerve and smooth muscle function, inflammation, surgery, medications, and impaired tissue perfusion. Three of the most common GI alterations in burn-injured patients are paralytic ileus (absence of intestinal peristalsis), Curling's ulcer, and translocation of bacteria. Decreased peristalsis and bowel sounds are manifestations of paralytic ileus.
A nurse is caring for a client with skin grafts covering full-thickness burns on the arms and legs. During dressing changes, the nurse should:
wrap elastic bandages distally to proximally on dependent areas.
A nurse is aware that after a burn injury and respiratory difficulties have been managed, the next most urgent need is to:
Replace lost fluids and electrolytes.
When using the palmar method to estimate the extent of the burn injury, the palm is equal to which percentage of TBSA?
0.5
A nurse knows to assess a patient with a burn injury for gastrointestinal complications. Which of the following is a sign that indicates the presence of a paralytic ileus?
Decreased peristalsis
Which is the primary nursing intervention in the care of a client with burns exceeding 20% of total body surface area?
Fluid resuscitation
A person suffers leg burns from spilled charcoal lighter fluid. A family member extinguishes the flames. While waiting for an ambulance, what should the burned person do?
Have someone assist him into a bath of cool water, where he can wait for emergency personnel.
A 6-year-old girl was playing near her family's campfire when she fell into the fire, suffering significant burns. She was taken by air ambulance to the burn unit where you practice nursing. What physiologic process furthers her burn injury?
Inflammatory
A client presents with blistering wounds caused by an unknown chemical agent. How should the nurse intervene?
Irrigate the wounds with water.
A nurse is preparing a care plan for a client burned over 36% of his body 2 days previously. Which clinical manifestation indicates that the client has progressed into the intermediate phase of burn care?
The client's complete blood count readings reflect a reduced hematocrit.
