Which would be the priority nursing diagnosis during the acute phase of burn injury for a child who has a third-degree circumferential burn of the right arm?

Question

1. Altered tissue perfusion, risk for
2. Infection, risk for
3. Impaired physical mobility
4. Altered nutrition: less than body requirements, risk for

Answer 1

1
Rationale 1: Circumferential burns can restrict blood flow due to edema, resulting in tissue hypoxia. Altered tissue perfusion to the extremity is the greatest risk and therefore the priority diagnosis.
Rationale 2: When the burn is circumferential, blood flow can become restricted due to edema and can result in tissue hypoxia; therefore, the priority diagnosis is altered tissue perfusion, risk for to the extremity. Risk of infection would be a secondary priority in this case.
Rationale 3: Impaired physical mobility is a secondary priority for the child with a circumferential burn. Edema to the area can result in restricted blood flow and tissue hypoxia, making the priority diagnosis altered tissue perfusion, risk for.
Rationale 4: Infection, nutrition, and mobility would have secondary priority in this case.
Global Rationale: