A 31-year-old male patient with burn injuries is admitted to the burn unit. Which priority does the nurse anticipate within the first 24 hours?
Sterile dressing changes
Emotional support
Fluid resuscitation
Range-of-motion exercises
The Correct Answer is C
In the initial 24 hours after burn injury, fluid resuscitation is a critical priority in the management of burn patients. Burn injuries can lead to significant fluid loss, both locally at the burn site and systemically due to increased capillary permeability. Fluid resuscitation aims to restore and maintain adequate intravascular volume, ensuring sufficient tissue perfusion and organ function.
The Parkland Formula is commonly used to guide fluid resuscitation in burn patients. It involves calculating the total volume of fluid needed in the first 24 hours, with a portion given in the initial hours after injury and the remainder given over the remaining hours.
A. Sterile dressing changes (option A) are incorrect because they are important in wound care management for burn patients to prevent infection. However, fluid resuscitation takes precedence within the first 24 hours.
B. Emotional support (option B) is incorrect because it is an essential aspect of burn care, as burn injuries can have a significant psychological impact. While emotional support is crucial for the patient's overall well-being, it may not be the highest priority within the first 24 hours compared to addressing the physiological needs of fluid resuscitation.
D. Range-of-motion exercises (option D) are incorrect because they are important for preventing contractures and maintaining joint mobility in burn patients. However, they are typically initiated after the initial fluid resuscitation phase and wound stabilization.
Therefore, the priority the nurse anticipates within the first 24 hours for a 31-year-old male patient with burn injuries is fluid resuscitation.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","D","E"]
Explanation
These manifestations occur as compensatory mechanisms in response to decreased blood volume and compromised tissue perfusion. The body attempts to compensate for the inadequate circulating volume by increasing heart rate (A) and respiratory rate (B) to enhance oxygen delivery.
D. The decreased systolic blood pressure (D) is a result of decreased cardiac output and vasoconstriction in an attempt to maintain perfusion to vital organs.
E. The decreased urine output (E) is a result of decreased renal perfusion due to decreased blood volume.
C. Decreased pulse rate in (option C) is incorrect because it is not typically seen in the compensatory stage of hypovolemic shock. The body tries to increase heart rate to maintain cardiac output and compensate for the decreased blood volume.
F. Bilateral crackles in (option F) is incorrect because the lung bases are more commonly associated with conditions such as pulmonary edema or fluid overload, rather than the compensatory stage of hypovolemic shock.
It's important to note that the manifestations of shock can vary depending on individual patient factors and the underlying cause of shock. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment and clinical judgment are necessary to fully evaluate the patient's condition.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is a measure of the average pressure within the arteries during one cardiac cycle. It represents the perfusion pressure that drives blood flow to organs and tissues. In the context of shock, a MAP of 50 mm Hg is considered low and indicates inadequate tissue perfusion.
To improve tissue perfusion and restore blood pressure, the nurse would anticipate administering large volumes of intravenous fluids, such as Lactated Ringers (LR). Fluid resuscitation aims to increase intravascular volume and improve cardiac output, ultimately leading to improved tissue perfusion.
B. Cardiac Output (CO) is 4 L/min in (option A) is incorrect because Cardiac output represents the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute. While a low cardiac output may require intervention, it does not specifically indicate the need for large volumes of fluid administration.
C. Stroke volume is 70 ml/beat in (option C) is incorrect because Stroke volume refers to the volume of blood ejected by the heart with each contraction. While stroke volume can be an important determinant of cardiac output, it alone does not indicate the need for large fluid volumes.
D. The heart rate is 80 bpm in (option D) is incorrect because: Heart rate is the number of heartbeats per minute. While the heart rate can impact cardiac output, it does not provide direct information about fluid resuscitation needs.
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