first-degree burn

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A child is treated for superficial (first-degree) thermal burns to the thigh. The child is in great discomfort and does not eat.

Which of the following diagnoses should receive PRIORITY?

a- Altered nutrition

b- Impaired skin integrity

c- Risk for infection

d- Acute pain

I am confuse about this question, it has been answered as (a) in the nursing-MCQ, but i am not satisfied with this answer as it looks (d) more closer? What you think guys!!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Good morning! I moved your post into the Nursing Student Assistance forum to ensure maximum responses. Welcome to allnurses. :)

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First degree burns are superficial burns off the epidermis. While they are uncomfortable, they are not partial or full thickness burns which require different interventions. Pain control is a must for deeper burns, but we are talking about a sunburn. A sunburn that wasn't deep enough to blister. The skin in not open to the tissues underneath (B,C) the pain could be treated no pharmacology, and at home. The child not eating though is concerning and pay off the root question.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Disagree with jaycam. Kid's not eating because of the pain, treat the pain fast, topical or po, see if the kid wants to eat. Adjust plan accordingly. Also, how old is the kid?

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Doesn't say in the question that the child is in pain, it says discomfort. OP also states the answer according to where he got the question is A.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

This is a case of reality vs care planning. lol. But keep Maslow's hierarchy in mind, and remember that nutrition is essential to healing. Yes, you'd treat the pain (and probably fix it more quickly than a nutrition issue), but nutrition is a physiological priority over the need for comfort according to Maslow.

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Specializes in Emergency.
Doesn't say in the question that the child is in pain, it says discomfort. OP also states the answer according to where he got the question is A.

Jaycam,

No disrespect, but you approached this from the perspective of a student and i approached this from the perspective of an experienced er nurse who's treated burned kids. Pixie's right about maslow, but i'm treating the pain now, right now.

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