10 NCLEX® Questions on Burns

A client with a burn injury is brought in to the urgent care clinic and the nurse begins an initial assessment. Which signs or symptoms from the client would the nurse attend to as highest priority? Select all that apply.

• The client has retractions in the chest with breathing
• The client has singed hairs around the mouth and nose
• The client has an oxygen saturation of 87 percent on room air
• The client has a 3-inch bandaged laceration on the shoulder
• The client complains of pain in the right arm

A nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from a severe burn injury. The nurse keeps track of the client’s intake and output each day throughout the shift. Which choice best describes the purpose of monitoring intake and output for a burn client?

• Checking whether a drug should be administered on time
• Identifying the client's appropriate weight
• Monitoring for electrolyte imbalances
• Determining whether the client's blood pressure is normal

A client is brought into the emergency department after suffering from third-degree burns in an explosion. The client has burns on approximately 40 percent of his body. The nurse weighs the client and notes that he weighs 170 lbs. Calculate the volume of IV fluid this client must receive in the first 24 hours using the Parkland formula.

• 16 L
• 12 L
• 4 L
• 8 L

A client who has been severely burned in an accident is brought to the emergency department. The physician orders a regimen to begin fluid resuscitation. Which type of fluid would the nurse most likely use as part of fluid resuscitation following a burn injury?

• D5 ½ NS with KCl
• Lactated Ringer's solution
• 0.9% Normal saline
• D10W

An emergency department nurse is caring for a client with 2nd and 3rd degree burns on 40 percent of his body. The nurse knows that the effects of the burn on the cardiovascular system include which of the following? Select all that apply.

• Hypovolemic shock
• Increased mean arterial pressure
• Decreased cardiac output
• Fluid volume deficit
• Increased pulse rate

A triage nurse takes a call from a client who has been burned while trying to do some electrical wiring. The nurse asks the client for more information. Which data from the client would indicate that they have suffered a 2nd-degree burn?

• The skin is red and has blisters
• The skin is white and appears charred
• The skin is red, painful and dry
• The skin is blackened with no pain

A client is recovering from an injury in which he was severely burned. The client is having difficulties coping with his appearance and he tells the nurse that he does not want to look at the burned area. Which response from the nurse is most appropriate?

• Tell the client about reconstructive surgery options
• Encourage the client to talk about their feelings of loss
• Explain that the client's family or friends can be a support for him
• Encourage the client to get rid of all mirrors in the home

The nurse is working in the emergency department when a 2-year-old is brought in with burns from the bath tub to both legs. The nurse knows that this constitutes burns to what percentage of the body?

• 30%
• 19%
• 15%
• 9.50%

The nurse is receiving report on a client with chemical burns over 70% of the body. The outgoing nurse states that the client’s pain is a 7/10. The client has been averaging 80 ml/hr out of urine output and receiving 125 ml/hr 0.9% normal saline into a central venous catheter. The serum sodium is 133, K is 3.4, and Mag is 1.9. Vital signs are stable. The client is receiving antibiotics and is on a regular diet. What is the nurse’s primary concern?

• Magnesium level
• Diet order
• Pain level
• Urinary output

A 7-year-old child was brought into the emergency department with 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 36% of his body. What is the priority during this initial emergency department phase in caring for this client?

• Fluid resuscitation
• Pain control
• Promote normothermia
• Debridement of the wounds