A client is being evaluated in the emergency department following a burn injury at home. The client has second- and third-degree burns to the right and left arms, back, and both posterior legs. Using the rule of nines, the nurse would calculate this client's burn as being:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The rule of nines assigns a percentage to each area of the body based on how much surface area it represents. The head and neck are assigned 9% each, the anterior and posterior trunk are each 18%, each arm is 9%, each leg is 18%, and the perineum is 1%. The client's injuries involve both arms (9% each), the entire back (18%), and both posterior legs (18% each), which adds up to a total of 54% (9 + 9 + 18 + 18 + 18 = 54%).

A Client Is Being Evaluated in the Emergency Department Following