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NCLEX-STYLE PRACTICE QUESTIONS: BURNS —
MED-SURG BURNS REVIEW 2025–2026 | A+
GRADED, GUARANTEED PASS COMPLETE REVIEW
PACK (UPDATED EDITION) | VERIFIED BURN
INJURY QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS & DETAILED CLINICAL RATIONALES |
EXPERT-REVIEWED ADULT HEALTH BURNS
MASTERY GUIDE
When assessing a patient who spilled hot oil on the
right leg and foot, the nurse notes that the skin is
dry, pale, hard skin. The patient states that the burn
is not painful. What term would the nurse use to
document the burn depth?
a. First-degree skin destruction
b. Full-thickness skin destruction
c. Deep partial-thickness skin destruction
d. Superficial partial-thickness skin destruction -
ANSWER-ANS: B
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Rationale: With full-thickness skin destruction, the
appearance is pale and dry or leathery and the area
is painless because of the associated nerve
destruction. Erythema, swelling, and blisters point
to a deep partial-thickness burn. With superficial
partial-thickness burns, the area is red, but no
blisters are present. First-degree burns exhibit
erythema, blanching, and pain
On admission to the burn unit, a patient with an
approximate 25% total body surface area (TBSA)
burn has the following initial laboratory results: Hct
58%, Hgb 18.2 mg/dL (172 g/L), serum K+ 4.9 mEq/L
(4.8 mmol/L), and serum Na+ 135 mEq/L (135
mmol/L). Which action will the nurse anticipate
taking now?
a. Monitor urine output every 4 hours.
b. Continue to monitor the laboratory results.
c. Increase the rate of the ordered IV solution.
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d. Type and crossmatch for a blood transfusion. -
ANSWER-ANS: C
Rationale:The patient's laboratory data show
hemoconcentration, which may lead to a decrease
in blood flow to the microcirculation unless fluid
intake is increased. Because the hematocrit and
hemoglobin are elevated, a transfusion is
inappropriate, although transfusions may be needed
after the emergent phase once the patient's fluid
balance has been restored. On admission to a burn
unit, the urine output would be monitored more
often than every 4 hours; likely every1 hour.
A patient is admitted to the burn unit with burns to
the head, face, and hands. Initially, wheezes are
heard, but an hour later, the lung sounds are
decreased and no wheezes are audible. What is the
best action for the nurse to take?
a. Encourage the patient to cough and auscultate
the lungs again.
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b. Notify the health care provider and prepare for
endotracheal intubation.
c. Document the results and continue to monitor
the patient's respiratory rate.
d. Reposition the patient in high-Fowler's position
and reassess breath sounds. - ANSWER-ANS: B
Rationale:The patient's history and clinical
manifestations suggest airway edema and the
health care provider should be notified immediately,
so that intubation can be done rapidly. Placing the
patient in a more upright position or having the
patient cough will not address the problem of
airway edema. Continuing to monitor is
inappropriate because immediate action should
occur
A patient with severe burns has crystalloid fluid
replacement ordered using the Parkland formula.
The initial volume of fluid to be administered in the
first 24 hours is 30,000 mL. The initial rate of
NCLEX-STYLE PRACTICE QUESTIONS: BURNS —
MED-SURG BURNS REVIEW 2025–2026 | A+
GRADED, GUARANTEED PASS COMPLETE REVIEW
PACK (UPDATED EDITION) | VERIFIED BURN
INJURY QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS & DETAILED CLINICAL RATIONALES |
EXPERT-REVIEWED ADULT HEALTH BURNS
MASTERY GUIDE
When assessing a patient who spilled hot oil on the
right leg and foot, the nurse notes that the skin is
dry, pale, hard skin. The patient states that the burn
is not painful. What term would the nurse use to
document the burn depth?
a. First-degree skin destruction
b. Full-thickness skin destruction
c. Deep partial-thickness skin destruction
d. Superficial partial-thickness skin destruction -
ANSWER-ANS: B
,2|Page
Rationale: With full-thickness skin destruction, the
appearance is pale and dry or leathery and the area
is painless because of the associated nerve
destruction. Erythema, swelling, and blisters point
to a deep partial-thickness burn. With superficial
partial-thickness burns, the area is red, but no
blisters are present. First-degree burns exhibit
erythema, blanching, and pain
On admission to the burn unit, a patient with an
approximate 25% total body surface area (TBSA)
burn has the following initial laboratory results: Hct
58%, Hgb 18.2 mg/dL (172 g/L), serum K+ 4.9 mEq/L
(4.8 mmol/L), and serum Na+ 135 mEq/L (135
mmol/L). Which action will the nurse anticipate
taking now?
a. Monitor urine output every 4 hours.
b. Continue to monitor the laboratory results.
c. Increase the rate of the ordered IV solution.
,3|Page
d. Type and crossmatch for a blood transfusion. -
ANSWER-ANS: C
Rationale:The patient's laboratory data show
hemoconcentration, which may lead to a decrease
in blood flow to the microcirculation unless fluid
intake is increased. Because the hematocrit and
hemoglobin are elevated, a transfusion is
inappropriate, although transfusions may be needed
after the emergent phase once the patient's fluid
balance has been restored. On admission to a burn
unit, the urine output would be monitored more
often than every 4 hours; likely every1 hour.
A patient is admitted to the burn unit with burns to
the head, face, and hands. Initially, wheezes are
heard, but an hour later, the lung sounds are
decreased and no wheezes are audible. What is the
best action for the nurse to take?
a. Encourage the patient to cough and auscultate
the lungs again.
, 4|Page
b. Notify the health care provider and prepare for
endotracheal intubation.
c. Document the results and continue to monitor
the patient's respiratory rate.
d. Reposition the patient in high-Fowler's position
and reassess breath sounds. - ANSWER-ANS: B
Rationale:The patient's history and clinical
manifestations suggest airway edema and the
health care provider should be notified immediately,
so that intubation can be done rapidly. Placing the
patient in a more upright position or having the
patient cough will not address the problem of
airway edema. Continuing to monitor is
inappropriate because immediate action should
occur
A patient with severe burns has crystalloid fluid
replacement ordered using the Parkland formula.
The initial volume of fluid to be administered in the
first 24 hours is 30,000 mL. The initial rate of
