A nurse collects the health history of a 65-year-old client. Which of the following risk factors in the client's history puts the client at the highest risk for embolic stroke?

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.

Choice A reason: This is correct because hearing loss is the most common complaint associated with a problem involving the inner ear. The inner ear consists of the cochlea, which is the organ of hearing, and the vestibular system, which is the organ of balance. The inner ear converts sound waves into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain. Any damage or dysfunction of the inner ear can impair hearing and cause hearing loss.
Choice B reason: This is incorrect because tinnitus is not the most common complaint associated with a problem involving the inner ear, but rather a symptom that can occur with various ear problems. Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears that is not caused by an external source. Tinnitus can be caused by exposure to loud noise, ear infections, earwax buildup, aging, or certain medications, but it is not specific to the inner ear.
Choice C reason: This is incorrect because pruritus is not a complaint associated with a problem involving the inner ear, but rather a complaint associated with a problem involving the outer ear. Pruritus is itching of the skin that can be caused by dryness, irritation, infection, or allergy. Pruritus can affect the outer ear, which is the visible part of the ear that collects and directs sound waves into the ear canal, but it has no relation to the inner ear.
Choice D reason: This is incorrect because muffled sounds are not a complaint associated with a problem involving the inner ear, but rather a complaint associated with a problem involving the middle ear. Muffled sounds are sounds that are unclear or distorted due to reduced sound transmission or perception. Muffled sounds can be caused by fluid buildup, inflammation, infection, or perforation of the eardrum in the middle ear, which is the air-filled space between the eardrum and the inner ear that contains three tiny bones that amplify sound vibrations.