A patient is admitted to the burn unit with burns of the head, neck, chest, and back following a garage fire. Upon admission to the unit, the nurse auscultates wheezes in the patient's lungs. One hour later, the wheezes cannot be heard, and lung sounds are decreased. The most appropriate action by the nurse is to

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient with burns of the face and neck and with decreased breath sounds will require intubation and ventilatory assistance, and the health care provider should be notified so that this can be rapidly accomplished. Placing the patient in a more upright position or having the patient cough will not address the problem of airway edema. Continuing to monitor is inappropriate because immediate action should occur.

A Patient Is Admitted to the Burn Unit with Burns