Burns - second-degree
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
Integumentary / Burns / Woundsmedium priorityneeds review
Burns - second-degree
Also testable as: Partial-thickness burn
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Thermal, chemical, electrical, radiation, or scald injury damages epidermis and part of dermis.
- Dermal injury causes blistering, severe pain, weeping, and fluid loss.
Medications
No specific medication class was seeded for this card.
Nursing actions
- Prioritize airway for face/neck/inhalation risk before wound appearance.
- Assess TBSA, pain, circulation, wound color/moisture, and tetanus status.
- Use clean dressings, infection prevention, fluid monitoring, and pain control as ordered.
Complications
- Fluid loss
- Infection
- Scarring
- Hypothermia
NCLEX cues
- Blisters, wet appearance, severe pain.
- Do not pop blisters for routine first aid teaching.
- Large burns require fluid calculation/monitoring.
Memory hooks
- Second-degree is blistered and wet.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.
Review notes
- Supplemental wife-requested study card. Use for NCLEX review only and verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy.