Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 89%
Simulated
When assessing a burn victim's skin the nurse notices the entire right and left upper extremities are red, moist, weeping, and blistered. How should the nurse document the degree and total body surface area (TBSA) burned?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
Partial-thickness burns damage the dermis and epidermis, often resulting in loss of epidermis and/or blistering. Each entire upper extremity is blistered. Approximately 18% of the TBSA has a partial-thickness burn (9% TBSA per each upper extremity). This is not a first-degree burn├óÔé¼ÔÇØIn a first-degree burn the skin may appear red but intact, no weeping, and no blistering. With full-thickness burns there would be loss of tissue and a black or white charred/waxy appearance to the remaining tissues.