A client is brought to the emergency department with partial-thickness burns to his face, neck, arms, and chest after trying to put out a car fire. The nurse should implement which nursing actions for this client? (Select all that apply.)
Submerge client in a cold bath
Administer oxygen
Restrict fluids
Provide a meal high in fiber
Assess airway
Apply ice to burned areas
Correct Answer : E,F
Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because submerging the client in a cold bath can cause hypothermia, shock, or infection. Cold water can lower the body temperature and blood pressure, which can impair circulation and organ function. Cold water can also introduce bacteria or contaminants into the open wounds. The nurse should use cool water or saline to gently irrigate the burned areas and then cover them with sterile dressings.
Choice B Reason: This is correct because administering oxygen can help the client breathe better and prevent hypoxia. Burns to the face, neck, or chest can cause swelling or damage to the airway, which can impair gas exchange and oxygen delivery. Oxygen can also reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur from inhaling smoke or fumes.
Choice C Reason: This is incorrect because restricting fluids can worsen dehydration and shock. Burns can cause significant fluid and electrolyte loss through evaporation and leakage from damaged capillaries. This can lead to hypovolemia, which is low blood volume, and hypotension, which is low blood pressure. The nurse should monitor the client's vital signs, urine output, and weight, and administer intravenous fluids as ordered.
Choice D Reason: This is incorrect because providing a meal high in fiber can cause abdominal discomfort or diarrhea. Burns can cause paralytic ileus, which is a temporary loss of bowel function due to nerve damage or inflammation. This can impair digestion and absorption of food and cause nausea, vomiting, or constipation. The nurse should assess the client's bowel sounds and provide enteral or parenteral nutrition as ordered.
Choice E Reason: This is correct because assessing airway is a priority nursing action for a client with burns. As mentioned above, burns to the face, neck, or chest can compromise the airway and cause respiratory distress or failure. The nurse should assess the client's level of consciousness, breathing rate and pattern, oxygen saturation, and signs of inhalation injury, such as sooty sputum, singed nasal hairs, or hoarseness. The nurse should also be prepared to assist with intubation or tracheostomy if needed.
Choice F Reason: This is correct because applying ice to burned areas can help reduce pain and swelling. Ice can constrict blood vessels and numb nerve endings, which can decrease inflammation and sensation. However, ice should be applied for no more than 15 minutes at a time and wrapped in a cloth or towel to prevent frostbite or tissue damage. Ice should not be applied to large or deep burns.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A Reason: This is incorrect because inability to recognize any words may indicate a problem with the auditory cortex, which is the part of the brain that processes sound, not the inner ear. The inner ear consists of the cochlea, which converts sound waves into nerve impulses, and the vestibular system, which helps with balance and orientation.
Choice B Reason: This is correct because loss of balance is a common symptom of an inner ear infection. An inner ear infection can cause inflammation and fluid buildup in the vestibular system, which can disrupt the sense of equilibrium and cause vertigo, dizziness, or nausea.
Choice C Reason: This is incorrect because twitching of the cheek may indicate a problem with the facial nerve, which controls the muscles of facial expression, not the inner ear. The facial nerve runs close to the inner ear, but it is not part of it.
Choice D Reason: This is incorrect because lack of air sound may indicate a problem with the outer or middle ear, which transmit sound waves to the inner ear, not the inner ear itself. The outer ear consists of the pinna and the ear canal, and the middle ear consists of the eardrum and the ossicles.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason: The burned area is yellow in color with severe edema is not a finding of a deep partial-thickness burn, but a superficial partial-thickness burn. A superficial partial-thickness burn involves the epidermis and the upper layer of the dermis, causing pain, redness, swelling, and blistering.
Choice B Reason: The burned area is black in color and pain is absent is not a finding of a deep partial-thickness burn, but a full-thickness burn. A full-thickness burn involves the epidermis, dermis, and underlying tissues, causing necrosis, charred skin, and loss of sensation.
Choice C Reason:This description aligns with a superficial partial-thickness (first-degree or mild second-degree) burn rather than a deep partial-thickness burn. Superficial partial-thickness burns involve the epidermis and the upper portion of the dermis. These burns appear pink or red, often accompanied by moisture and blister formation due to fluid leakage from damaged capillaries. They are painful because nerve endings remain intact. Healing occurs within 10 to 21 days without significant scarring.
Choice D Reason:Deep partial-thickness burns extend deeper into the dermis, damaging a larger portion of skin structures, including sweat glands and hair follicles. These burns typically appear red or white and may have a soft eschar (dead tissue), which differentiates them from more superficial burns that do not develop eschar. Unlike full-thickness burns, nerve endings remain partially intact, so the patient may still experience some pain. These burns take more than 21 days to heal and often require skin grafting to prevent complications such as contractures or hypertrophic scarring.
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