Nokea
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?
- A. Risk for Impaired Gas Exchange
- B. Acute Pain
- C. Infection Risk
- D. Altered Tissue Perfusion
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: 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.
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During the recovery of an extensive burn, the client is complaining about wearing the tight-fitting custom garment. What is an appropriate response by the nurse?
- A. Perhaps the garment should be resized.
- B. The garment acts as a skin layer and prevents infection.
- C. A snug fit is needed to minimize scarring and to smooth the skin.
- D. The garment can be removed for an hour each day.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The forming of burn scars can be minimized by the use of pressure dressings and custom-fitted garments that apply continuous pressure. Garments need to be snug in order to be effective. These garments are worn for 23 hours a day and may be prescribed for as long as 2 years. Prevention of infection is not indicated with use.
A nurse is caring for a client with facial burns who is prescribed the open method treatment. What nursing intervention should the nurse perform?
- A. Administer a cold sponge bath to the client.
- B. Keep the client's room cool and airy.
- C. Place a bed cradle or sheets over the client.
- D. Place the client on a moist linen sheet.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The skin of the client with burn is sensitive to drafts and temperature changes; therefore, a bed cradle or sheets should be placed over the client. The room should be kept warm and humidified, not cool and airy. The client should be placed in isolation in a bed with sterile, dry linen. Whirlpool baths are prescribed to loosen the crust, or eschar, which forms over the wound. Sponge baths are not advisable because particles from the sponge may cause accumulation of debris within the burn wound. Moist linen sheets are not placed on clients anymore due to their cooling effect, and they can lead the client to work hard to maintain proper body temperature.
The nurse is providing education to the client with multiple burns and lists the options for skin grafting and application techniques. Which is the primary benefit for using an autograft slit graft versus other types of grafts?
- A. Less scarring
- B. Less discomfort
- C. Speeds healing
- D. Rejection is unlikely.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In an autograft slit graft, the skin is harvested from the client's buttocks or thighs. Rejection is less likely with this type of graft because the donor and recipient are the same. There will be scarring at both the donor and recipient sites, and added discomfort is associated from the donor site. Because the slit graft is expanded through a meshing device, the scarring will appear as a mesh. Healing is delayed due to need for two wounds.
Which of the following would indicate the need to increase fluids beyond what is recommended for fluid resuscitation?
- A. Myoglobin in the urine
- B. Increase in antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
- C. Elevation of blood glucose levels
- D. Hypermatremia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Myoglobin from muscle tissue destruction is transported to the kidneys for excretion and can cause tubular necrosis and acute renal failure. Increase in fluid intake until urine output clears is recommended in serious burns. An increase in ADH release is expected as the body tries to prevent hypovolemic shock. Elevation in glucose levels occurs when the adrenal cortex is stimulated. Sodium levels rise in response to aldosterone levels, which directly leads to peripheral edema.
Which is a disadvantage of surgical debridement?
- A. Scarring
- B. Bleeding
- C. Loss of function
- D. Contractures
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A disadvantage of surgical debridement is bleeding. Scarring, loss of function, and contractures are not disadvantages of surgical debridement.