The role of the nurse in the care of a child with second-degree burns during hospitalization

Abstract

Introduction. A thermal injury of a child is a very painful, stressful and even life-threatening situation. This situation demands from therapeutic team to take efficient and professional actions which are based on knowledge and experience to allay the patient's needs. A nurse in the care of a child with burns must works on many levels, be aimed at patient's wellbeing, his as soon as possible recovery and shows him support and empathy at the same time.

Aim. The aim of this bachelor thesis is to present nurse’s duties towards child after thermal injury and bio-psychosocial patients and his parents/protectors needs.

Case study. A 2-year-old child was admitted to the pediatric surgery ward due to injuries resulting from thermal trauma. Prior to the initial assessment of the extent and depth of the burn wounds, the child was given analgesics and sedatives to reduce the child's anxiety and pain. Mosaic burns IIa/IIb located on the right side of the chest, right shoulder, and right arm, as well as I/IIa burns of the face in the area of the cheek, mouth and right temple were diagnosed. The burnt area in relation to the total area was estimated at about 20%.

Conclusion. In a care of a child with burns the nurse has to deal with many serious nursing problems. Thermal injury causes not only very painful burns. The patient canals have a systemic burn disease. The injury and hospitalization are stressful for the child and interfere with his psychological comfort. Nurses' actions in care of a child with burns are multifaceted in order to meet the needs of every sphere of patient's life.