NUR 445: EXAM 4 (#1 STUDY
GUIDE)QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the four different types of burns? - ANSWERS1. Thermal
2. Chemical
3. Electrical
4. Radiation
Describe thermal burns. - ANSWERSResult of flash, scald, or contact with hot objects
and flames. Associated accelerant use (gasses) can increase severity of burn and
inhalation injury due to added chemical insult.
What are the common causes of thermal burns? - ANSWERSHouse fires, car fires,
cooking accidents, injury from smoking.
Note: Contact burns are thermal in nature and associated with cooking and heating
accidents, scald injuries are most prevalent among the young and associated with
accidents or abuse
Describe electrical burns. - ANSWERSCan result in a wide spectrum of injuries from
mild to lethal, majority are work related
Describe chemical burns. - ANSWERSThree subclasses include acids, alkaline, and
organic compounds, both injury and household
Describe radiation burns. - ANSWERSLeast common type of burn injury, severity of
complications depend on type, dose, and length of exposure.
What are the some cause of radiation burns? - ANSWERSOften associated with
industry of ionizing radiation, nuclear accidents, and therapeutic radiation treatment.
Sunburn is also considered radiation by UV radiation.
Burn Depth: Describe the superficial layer. - ANSWERSOnly affect epidermal layer of
skin
Note: Sunburn is the most common type.
What are the characteristics of the superficial layer? - ANSWERSMild erythema and
hypersensitivity, typically resolve in 24-72 hours. Heal quickly and typically do not
require medical intervention or admission to a burn center, don't usually result in
scarring.
, Burn Depth: Describe the superficial partial thickness layer. - ANSWERSInvolves
epidermis and the superficial/minimal layers of dermis, exposed nerve endings in the
dermal later often make these burns painful.
What are the characteristics of the partial thickness layer? - ANSWERSWet, weeping
blisters and pink in color, capillary refill time on open areas of blisters remain normal,
patient is sensitive to touch and air currents when the wound is exposed. Heals in 1-2
weeks with minimal to no scarring.
Burn Depth: Describe deep partial thickness layer. - ANSWERSInvolves epidermis and
extends into deeper portions of bottom layers of dermis
Describe the characteristics of deep partial thickness layer. - ANSWERSAppear waxy
and do not have weeping blisters, light pink or cherry red, capillary refill is decreased or
absent, patient reports varying areas of pain and decreased sensation
Burn Depth: Describe the full-thickness layer. - ANSWERSMuscle and bone
involvement.
Describe the rule of palms. - ANSWERSSize of hand, including fingers is 1% TBSA,
useful for very small and/or very large burns, scattered burns, and in mass casualty
situations where time is of the essence
Describe the rule of nines. - ANSWERSMost commonly used in pre-hospital setting,
body surface areas broken into percentages and is modified for infants and children,
concern is that all people have the same distribution of body surface area percentages.
Describe the Lund and Browder classification. - ANSWERSIn hospital setting and
majority of burn centers, most widely accepted and accurate method. Measurements
take into account surface area related to age and are assigned to each body part
Describe the fluid replacement formula (Parkland) - ANSWERS2-4ml/hr x TBSA x
weight in kgs = Total fluid resuscitation in the first 24 hours
Remember: 50% needs to be infused in first 8 hours. The remaining 50% over the next
16 hours.
Concentric Zones: Describe coagulation. - ANSWERSArea that had most contact with
heat source and location of most severe damage
Concentric Zones: Describe stasis. - ANSWERSImmediately surrounds zone of
coagulation and characterized by damaged cells and impaired circulation
Concentric Zones: Describe hyperemia. - ANSWERSOutermost area with area of
increased blood flow in an effort to bring nutrients for tissue recovery.
GUIDE)QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the four different types of burns? - ANSWERS1. Thermal
2. Chemical
3. Electrical
4. Radiation
Describe thermal burns. - ANSWERSResult of flash, scald, or contact with hot objects
and flames. Associated accelerant use (gasses) can increase severity of burn and
inhalation injury due to added chemical insult.
What are the common causes of thermal burns? - ANSWERSHouse fires, car fires,
cooking accidents, injury from smoking.
Note: Contact burns are thermal in nature and associated with cooking and heating
accidents, scald injuries are most prevalent among the young and associated with
accidents or abuse
Describe electrical burns. - ANSWERSCan result in a wide spectrum of injuries from
mild to lethal, majority are work related
Describe chemical burns. - ANSWERSThree subclasses include acids, alkaline, and
organic compounds, both injury and household
Describe radiation burns. - ANSWERSLeast common type of burn injury, severity of
complications depend on type, dose, and length of exposure.
What are the some cause of radiation burns? - ANSWERSOften associated with
industry of ionizing radiation, nuclear accidents, and therapeutic radiation treatment.
Sunburn is also considered radiation by UV radiation.
Burn Depth: Describe the superficial layer. - ANSWERSOnly affect epidermal layer of
skin
Note: Sunburn is the most common type.
What are the characteristics of the superficial layer? - ANSWERSMild erythema and
hypersensitivity, typically resolve in 24-72 hours. Heal quickly and typically do not
require medical intervention or admission to a burn center, don't usually result in
scarring.
, Burn Depth: Describe the superficial partial thickness layer. - ANSWERSInvolves
epidermis and the superficial/minimal layers of dermis, exposed nerve endings in the
dermal later often make these burns painful.
What are the characteristics of the partial thickness layer? - ANSWERSWet, weeping
blisters and pink in color, capillary refill time on open areas of blisters remain normal,
patient is sensitive to touch and air currents when the wound is exposed. Heals in 1-2
weeks with minimal to no scarring.
Burn Depth: Describe deep partial thickness layer. - ANSWERSInvolves epidermis and
extends into deeper portions of bottom layers of dermis
Describe the characteristics of deep partial thickness layer. - ANSWERSAppear waxy
and do not have weeping blisters, light pink or cherry red, capillary refill is decreased or
absent, patient reports varying areas of pain and decreased sensation
Burn Depth: Describe the full-thickness layer. - ANSWERSMuscle and bone
involvement.
Describe the rule of palms. - ANSWERSSize of hand, including fingers is 1% TBSA,
useful for very small and/or very large burns, scattered burns, and in mass casualty
situations where time is of the essence
Describe the rule of nines. - ANSWERSMost commonly used in pre-hospital setting,
body surface areas broken into percentages and is modified for infants and children,
concern is that all people have the same distribution of body surface area percentages.
Describe the Lund and Browder classification. - ANSWERSIn hospital setting and
majority of burn centers, most widely accepted and accurate method. Measurements
take into account surface area related to age and are assigned to each body part
Describe the fluid replacement formula (Parkland) - ANSWERS2-4ml/hr x TBSA x
weight in kgs = Total fluid resuscitation in the first 24 hours
Remember: 50% needs to be infused in first 8 hours. The remaining 50% over the next
16 hours.
Concentric Zones: Describe coagulation. - ANSWERSArea that had most contact with
heat source and location of most severe damage
Concentric Zones: Describe stasis. - ANSWERSImmediately surrounds zone of
coagulation and characterized by damaged cells and impaired circulation
Concentric Zones: Describe hyperemia. - ANSWERSOutermost area with area of
increased blood flow in an effort to bring nutrients for tissue recovery.
