An emergency department nurse is caring for a patient with severe burns. After ensuring patent airway, adequate breathing, and initiating IV fluids replacement therapy, the nurse's next action should focus on
1. nutritional support.
2. wounds care.
3. pain management.
4. psychological support.
3
Rationale: The priorities of emergency care for burn patients should focus on establishing a patent airway and adequate breathing first. Second, the focus is adequate circulation and fluid resuscitation. Then, pain and anxiety medication, such as morphine, should be given intravenously in small frequent doses until the patient reaches a tolerable level of pain and anxiety control. Wound care should be the focus after adequate pain control is achieved. Psychological support should be provided at all times while caring for patients with burns; however, this is not the main focus during the resuscitative phase.
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