A child has been admitted to the burn unit after pulling a pan of hot water off the stove. Given the fact that there is primarily second- and third-degree burns, the health care worker should prioritize care to focus on which of the following?

Question

Select all that apply.
A) Focus on replacing fluids that have been lost from the vascular, interstitial, and cellular compartments.
B) Assess for indications that the child's airway has been compromised by assessing breath sounds and voice quality.
C) Maintain sterile field when doing dressing changes and debridement.
D) Withhold foods/nutrition since the GI tract may have slowed down in response to stress.
E) Minimize pain medication administration to not compromise the child's respiratory effort.

Answer 1

Ans: A, B, C
Feedback:
Fluid is lost from the vascular, interstitial, and cellular compartments. Because of a loss of vascular volume, major burn victims often present in the emergency department in a form of hypovolemic shock. Manifestations of inhalation injury include hoarseness, drooling and inability to handle secretions, hacking cough, and labored, shallow breathing. Immunologically, the skin is the body's first line of defense. When the skin is no longer intact, the body is open to bacterial infection. The stress of burn injury increases metabolic and nutritional requirements; therefore, nutrition should not be withheld. Pain medication should be titrated to the child's need.