A patient who has burns on the back and chest from a house fire has become agitated and restless 9 hours after being admitted to the hospital. Which action should the nurse take first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Agitation in a patient who may have suffered inhalation injury might indicate hypoxemia, and this should be assessed by the nurse first. Administration of morphine may be indicated if the nurse determines that the agitation is caused by pain. Assessing level of consciousness and orientation also is appropriate but not as essential as determining whether the patient is hypoxemic. Reassurance is not helpful to reduce agitation in a hypoxemic patient.

A Patient Who Has Burns on the Back and Chest