Burn Care Flashcards
What is included in the primary survey for a burn victim?
airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure
How is a patient’s temperature maintained after a burn?
keep room warm, keep patient covered with dry sheets and blankets, and use warm IV fluids
Why are pediatric patients more susceptible to scald burns?
The skin of the pediatric patients is thinner (especially babies)
What is an important aspect to address when there is a flame or scald burn?
if there may be any abuse or neglect
What are the 5 ways that someone can acquire a burn?
exposure to heat (flames, steam, hot objects and liquids), chemicals (household or industrial), electricity (current or lightning), radiation (sun exposure, tanning or radiography), or extreme cold
Which type of burn is characterized by deep penetration of tissues and necrosis continuing for several hours after injury?
Alkaline burn
Severe electrical contact injuries are often caused by low-voltage lines in which form?
Alternating current
Which groups are at greatest risk for burn injuries?
Older adults
Children
Which areas are most prone to injury as a result of radiation exposure?
Skin
Blood vessels
Intestinal lining
Bone marrow
How is a burn injury classified?
according to depth of injury and extent of body surface area involved and by the deepest tissue destruction
What is a superficial partial-thickness burn?
involve the epidermis and the superficial layer of the dermis. These burns may occur after brief contact with hot objects.
What is a deep partial-thickness burn?
involve the epidermis and deep layer of the dermis—for example, a hot tar burn (thermal burn)
What is a full-thickness burn?
involve the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers of skin and tissue
What can prolonged exposure to flames, electricity, or chemicals cause?
full-thickness burns
What is a deep full-thickness/subdermal burn?
usually involve all layers of the skin and may include injury to muscle, tendons, or bone as a result of prolonged contact with flames, hot objects, or electricity
How long does it take a superficial burn to heal?
Heals in 3 to 7 days via sloughing of the epidermal layer, no scarring
How long does it take for a superficial partial-thickness burn to heal?
Heals in 10 to 14 days via re-epithelialization
No scarring; potential for hypo- or hyperpigmentation
How long does it take for a deep partial-thickness burn to heal?
Heals in 21 days or longer
Potential for scarring and hypo- or hyperpigmentation
May require skin grafting for optimal function or appearance
What kind of burns may require skin grafting?
deep partial-thickness, full-thickness, and subdermal burns
What type of burn may require amputation?
subdermal burn
How long can it take for wounds to show full extent of injury?
up to 72 hours
What are reasons that wound conversion may occur?
impaired oxygenation of tissues, infection, mechanical trauma, and malnutrition
What is the zone of coagulation?
the area of greatest damage that is typically closest to the heat source
Using the rule of nines, calculate the extent of burn for a client with burns to the posterior head and posterior trunk
22.5%
White, charred, leathery wounds are the result of which type of burn?
Full-thickness
Which thermal burn zone is an area of immediately nonviable tissue?
Zone of coagulation
What leads to massive fluid and electrolyte shifts from intravascular space to the interstitium?
loss of capillary seal
What is the most important intervention for burn shock?
fluid resuscitation
What does the Parkland formula calculate?
crystalloid fluid administration during first 24 hours post burn injury
The resuscitative phase of burn injury lasts how long after the time of injury?
48 to 72 hours
Critically burned clients are at high risk for which complication during the resuscitative phase?
Burn shock
An adult client has a 55% TBSA burn and weighs 75 kilograms. Using the Parkland formula, calculate fluid resuscitation requirements for the first 8 hours.
8250 mL
What is a primary component of treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Which burns are the most painful?
Superficial partial-thickness burns
In general, how are full-thickness burns best described?
not painful
Neurological effects such as seizure or respiratory paralysis is most common with which type of burn injury?
Electrical
Which burn injury is associated with pain that is exceptionally sensitive and painful even to an air current passing over it?
Partial-thickness
The nurse anticipates administering a medication from which class to address acute-burn phase delirium?
Antipsychotic phenothiazine
