Question

A parent of a toddler brings the child to the emergency department because the child has accidentally been scalded by hot water spilling from the stove. In order to differentiate the burn from potential abuse, the nurse first should assess the child:

A. on the back of the body.
B. on the front of the body.
C. for a circular pattern.
D. on the buttocks.

Answer 1

To differentiate an accidental burn from potential abuse, a nurse should assess the child for burn patterns such as circular patterns, symmetry, or burns on uncommonly injured areas like the buttocks, which suggest non-accidental injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

When differentiating an accidental scald burn from potential abuse, a nurse should first assess for burn patterns that can be indicative of the cause. For this case, the nurse should look for circular patterns, symmetry, and burns in areas not typically associated with accidental injuries, such as on the buttocks. Accidental burns tend to have an irregular edge and are more common on the front of the body since that is normally the side facing a heat source during accidental exposure. In the case of a toddler who was scalded by hot water spilling from the stove, the nurse should look for splash marks and the flow patterns of the liquid, which can provide evidence whether it was an accident or deliberate. Moreover, understanding the severity of the burn is crucial, and this is assessed by the degree ranging from first-degree (superficial) to fourth-degree (deep tissue damage).