Question

A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child who has superficial partial-thickness burns over 50% of his body. When planning for the nutritional needs of the child, which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take? A. Encourage a diet high in protein and calories.

B. Limit fluid intake to prevent edema.
C. Restrict carbohydrates to minimize insulin needs.
D. Provide a low-fat diet to prevent weight gain.

Answer 1

For a child with superficial partial-thickness burns over 50% of their body, the nurse should plan to encourage a diet high in protein and calories to support healing and provide the energy needed for recovery.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nutritional management for a child with superficial partial-thickness burns over a significant portion of their body, such as 50%, is critical in supporting their healing and recovery process.

A. Encourage a diet high in protein and calories is the correct choice. Burns cause a massive loss of fluid, lead to dehydration, and increase metabolic demand, requiring additional calories and protein for tissue repair. Increased protein intake assists with healing, and a calorie-rich diet provides the necessary energy for recovery. In contrast, restricting fluids (choice B) can further worsen dehydration, which is counterproductive to burn treatment. Limiting carbohydrates (choice C) is not advisable because they serve as a primary source of energy. Lastly, providing a low-fat diet to prevent weight gain (choice D) is not a priority in the acute management of burns.