The parents of an 8-year-old child are concerned about their daughter's prognosis from the burn injuries sustained in a house fire. Which of the following should the nurse respond to these parents?

Question

1. Your child will have many problems going forward.
2. Only time will tell.
3. Your child will be fine after the burns heal and extensive rehabilitation.
4. Children are more prone to burn injuries but the elderly have a greater risk for infection.

Answer 1

4

Rationale: Even though children and people with advancing age are most prone to burn injuries, people with advancing age have impaired senses and reaction times, and tend to incorrectly assess risk. The elderly have thinner skin, with decreased microcirculation and an increased susceptibility to infection. This is what the nurse should respond to the parents. The nurse has no way of knowing if the child will have many problems going forward. The comment of "only time will tell" is an inappropriate comment to make to the parents. The nurse also has no way of knowing if the child will be fine after the burns heal or if the child will need extensive rehabilitation.