Final answer:
The nurse should use the palm method, where the size of the patient's palm is used to estimate the percentage of the burn area, which is approximately 1% of the body surface area. For a detailed assessment, the rule of nines is employed, which uses precise percentages for specific body parts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quick assessment technique that a nurse should use to assess the percentage of burn injury is to compare the client's palm with the size of the burn wound. This method is based on the fact that a person's palm approximates 1% of their total body surface area. This technique is a quick estimation, whereas for a more detailed assessment, healthcare professionals use the rule of nines, associating specific anatomical areas with percentages that are multiples of nine to gauge the total body surface area affected by burns.
Burn injuries are classified by their depth, as well as the total surface area affected. In increasing order of severity, there are first-degree burns which only affect the epidermis, second-degree burns which affect both the epidermis and a portion of the dermis, third-degree burns which destroy the full thickness of the skin and affect nerve endings, and fourth-degree burns which extend beyond the skin to muscle and bone. It is crucial to monitor burns carefully for signs of infection, such as increased redness, swelling, and pain.