A client presents with superficial burns and multiple intact blisters on the forearm.
During dressing change, several blisters rupture and the underlying skin is exposed. Which action should the nurse take?
Apply a topical antimicrobial ointment and sterile nonadherent dressing.
Leave the area open to air to promote drying.
Apply dry gauze tightly over the wound.
Remove all remaining intact blisters.
The Correct Answer is A
This scenario requires understanding of integumentary integrity and burn wound management. Knowledge of infection prevention and moist wound healing principles is essential. Partial-thickness burns involve the epidermis and dermis, necessitating protection of the newly exposed, vulnerable basement membrane to facilitate re-epithelialization.
Choice A rationale
. Antimicrobials prevent colonization of exposed dermis while nonadherent dressings maintain a moist environment. This facilitates cellular migration and prevents further trauma during future dressing changes. Protecting the bed from environmental pathogens is critical for healing and preventing secondary infection.
Choice B rationale
. Air exposure causes desiccation of the wound bed, which leads to cell death and delayed healing. Dry environments promote eschar formation, increasing the risk of scarring. Maintaining a moist interface is the gold standard for promoting rapid dermal repair.
Choice C rationale
. Dry gauze adheres to the wound exudate and causes significant tissue damage during removal. Tight application can also impair local capillary circulation, leading to ischemia. Dressings should be applied loosely enough to ensure adequate perfusion to the healing tissue.
Choice D rationale
. Intact blisters serve as a biological dressing, protecting the underlying dermis from infection. Removing them prematurely exposes the wound bed unnecessarily to the external environment. They should only be debrided if they are large enough to impede joint movement.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
This scenario requires evaluating medical orders against a client's specific allergy profile to morphine, iodine, and codeine. Knowledge of hypersensitivity reactions to intravenous contrast media and the safe selection of analgesics is necessary to ensure patient safety and prevent potentially fatal allergic responses.
Choice A rationale
Iodine is a primary component of many intravenous contrast agents used in imaging. The client's documented iodine allergy necessitates questioning this order to avoid life-threatening systemic reactions, such as angioedema or airway obstruction, typically associated with radiopaque medium exposure.
Choice B rationale
Therapeutic lifestyle changes, including dietary modifications, are foundational in stroke prevention. Reducing dietary fats and cholesterol helps mitigate cardiovascular risk factors, supporting the long-term management of transient ischemic attacks without conflicting with the client's specific known drug allergies.
Choice C rationale
Protocol-based vital sign monitoring ensures the early detection of neurological or hemodynamic instability. This order is a standard of care for any patient presenting with cerebrovascular symptoms and carries no risk related to the client's iodine or opioid sensitivities.
Choice D rationale
Acetaminophen belongs to the para-aminophenol derivative class of medications. It does not possess the structural components of phenanthrene alkaloids like morphine or codeine, making it a safe alternative for treating mild to moderate pain in opioid-allergic individuals..
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Chest tube management for pneumothorax involves monitoring for clinical complications and system patency. This scenario requires applying knowledge of respiratory emergencies, specifically recognizing signs of tension pneumothorax, which is a life threatening complication characterized by shifting of thoracic structures.
Choice A rationale
Tracheal deviation toward the unaffected side signifies a tension pneumothorax. This occurs when intrapleural pressure increases significantly, causing a mediastinal shift that compresses the heart and opposite lung, requiring immediate needle decompression or chest tube adjustment by providers.
Choice B rationale
Eyelets are the drainage holes at the end of the chest tube. If they are not visible, it indicates the tube is correctly positioned within the pleural space. Visible eyelets would suggest the tube has partially dislodged.
Choice C rationale
Crepitus, or subcutaneous emphysema, is a common finding where air leaks into subcutaneous tissues around the insertion site. While it should be monitored and documented, it generally does not require emergency provider notification unless it rapidly expands.
Choice D rationale
Intermittent bubbling in the water seal chamber during exhalation or coughing is expected in a patient with a pneumothorax. It indicates that air is successfully being evacuated from the pleural space into the drainage system.
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