A patient with a full-thickness burn covering 40% of their body is exhibiting purulent drainage at the wound site. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider, which of the patient’s laboratory values should the nurse review?
Blood pH level
Hematocrit
White blood cell (WBC) count
Platelet count
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Blood pH level is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the blood. While it’s an important measure in many medical situations, it’s not directly related to the presence of purulent drainage at a burn wound site.
Choice B rationale
Hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the blood and is not directly related to the presence of purulent drainage at a burn wound site. Elevated hematocrit may indicate dehydration or hemoconcentration but does not specifically address the issue of wound infection.
Choice C rationale
The White Blood Cell (WBC) count is a key indicator of infection or inflammation in the body. An elevated WBC count can indicate an infection, which could be the cause of the purulent drainage observed at the burn wound site.
Choice D rationale
Platelet count is a measure of the number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are involved in clotting and wound healing, but they do not directly indicate the presence of an infection that could cause purulent drainage.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
While the activity level of bowel sounds can provide information about the functioning of the gastrointestinal system, it is not the most important data to manage the patient’s pain from chronic pancreatitis.
Choice B rationale
The level and amount of physical activity can affect the patient’s pain level, but it is not the most crucial data for managing pain in chronic pancreatitis.
Choice C rationale
Eating patterns of dietary intake are the most important data to manage the patient’s pain. In chronic pancreatitis, certain foods can exacerbate the pain. Understanding the patient’s dietary habits can help in providing appropriate dietary modifications.
Choice D rationale
The color and consistency of feces can provide information about the patient’s digestive health, but it is not the most important data to manage the patient’s pain from chronic pancreatitis.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
A superficial partial-thickness burn involves the destruction of the epidermis and possibly a portion of the dermis. The description provided does not match this type of burn.
Choice B rationale
A full-thickness burn involves total destruction of the epidermis and dermis, and in some cases, the underlying tissue, muscle, and bone. The description of the burn as severely swollen, with a wound bed that appears brown and yellow, and the patient reporting no pain, is consistent with a full-thickness burn.
Choice C rationale
A deep partial-thickness burn involves the destruction of the epidermis and upper layers of the dermis and injury to the deeper portions of the dermis. The description provided does not match this type of burn.
Choice D rationale
Deep full-thickness burns are a more severe form of full-thickness burns that extend beyond the dermis into deeper tissues. The description provided does not match this type of burn.
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