Question

An adult pt has experienced a third-degree burn. An APRN is attempting to calculate the total body surface area affected using the rule of nines. The areas involved include the anterior and posterior right arm and leg and the groin. What is the estimated total body surface area that will be assigned by the APRN?

Answer 1

The rule of nines is used to calculate the body surface area affected by a burn. In this case, the estimated body surface area burned for an adult with a third-degree burn on the entire right arm, leg, and groin area is 55%.

Step-by-step explanation:

An adult patient has experienced a third-degree burn, and an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is using the rule of nines to estimate the total body surface area affected. This method divides the body into sections that are multiples of nine percent.

The anterior and posterior aspects of the right arm account for 9% of the body surface area, the right leg another 18%, and the groin area 1%. Thus, the estimated total body surface area involved would be 9% for the arm, 9% for the posterior of the arm, 18% for the leg, 18% for the posterior of the leg, and 1% for the groin, which adds up to 55% of the body surface area burned.