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An occupational health nurse is called to the floor of a factory where a worker has sustained a flash burn to the right arm. The nurse arrives and the flames have been extinguished. The next step is to cool the burn. How should the nurse cool the burn?
- A. Apply ice to the site of the burn for 5 to 10 minutes.
- B. Wrap the patients affected extremity in ice until help arrives.
- C. Apply an oil-based substance or butter to the burned area until help arrives.
- D. Wrap cool towels around the affected extremity intermittently.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Cool towels or water applied intermittently relieve pain and limit tissue damage without causing hypothermia, which ice can induce. Oil-based substances like butter trap heat, worsening the burn.
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A nurse on a burn unit is caring for a patient in the acute phase of burn care. While performing an assessment during this phase of burn care, the nurse recognizes that airway obstruction related to upper airway edema may occur up to how long after the burn injury?
- A. 2 days
- B. 3 days
- C. 5 days
- D. 1 week
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Upper airway edema from burns can develop up to 48 hours post-injury due to inflammation and fluid shifts, requiring vigilant monitoring. Later onset is less likely.
The current phase of a patients treatment for a burn injury prioritizes wound care, nutritional support, and prevention of complications such as infection. Based on these care priorities, the patient is in what phase of burn care?
- A. Emergent
- B. Immediate resuscitative
- C. Acute
- D. Rehabilitation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The acute phase, starting 48-72 hours post-burn, focuses on wound care, infection prevention, and nutritional support. The emergent phase prioritizes fluid resuscitation and airway management, immediate resuscitative is not a distinct phase, and rehabilitation focuses on scar prevention and psychosocial support.
A nurse is developing a care plan for a patient with a partial-thickness burn, and determines that an appropriate goal is to maintain position of joints in alignment. What is the best rationale for this intervention?
- A. To prevent neuropathies
- B. To prevent wound breakdown
- C. To prevent contractures
- D. To prevent heterotopic ossification
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Maintaining joint alignment prevents contractures, a common complication of burns due to tissue shortening. It does not primarily prevent neuropathies, wound breakdown, or ossification.
A patient is brought to the ED by paramedics, who report that the patient has partial-thickness burns on the chest and legs. The patient has also suffered smoke inhalation. What is the priority in the care of a patient who has been burned and suffered smoke inhalation?
- A. Pain
- B. Fluid balance
- C. Anxiety and fear
- D. Airway management
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Airway management is the priority due to the risk of obstruction from smoke inhalation-induced edema, following the ABCs of trauma care. Pain, fluid balance, and anxiety are secondary.
An emergency department nurse learns from the paramedics that they are transporting a patient who has suffered injury from a scald from a hot kettle. What variables will the nurse consider when determining the depth of burn?
- A. The causative agent
- B. The patients preinjury health status
- C. The patients prognosis for recovery
- D. The circumstances of the accident
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Burn depth is determined by factors like the causative agent (e.g., scalding liquid), temperature, contact duration, and skin thickness. Preinjury health, prognosis, and accident circumstances are not direct determinants.