CBRN and Burn Nursing Practice Exam Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core burn care concepts, triage criteria, pharmacologic side effects, wound dressings, and resuscitation formulas from the CBRN practice exam text.

Burn Conversion

The progression of a burn injury from the zone of stasis to the zone of coagulation, clinically identified by the loss of wound blanching.

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)

A severe adverse cutaneous reaction, typically caused by drugs, characterized by mucosal involvement and epidermal detachment involving greater than $30\%$ of Total Body Surface Area (TBSA).

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)

A severe adverse cutaneous reaction characterized by mucosal lesions and skin detachment involving less than $10\%$ of Total Body Surface Area (TBSA).

Silver Impregnated Foam Dressing

An antimicrobial wound dressing ideal for superficial to deep partial-thickness burns that provides antimicrobial coverage and can remain in place for multiple days.

Mafenide Acetate (Sulfamylon)

A topical antimicrobial agent that effectively penetrates eschar and cartilaginous structures such as the nose and ears, but whose prolonged use can cause systemic metabolic acidosis.

Allograft

A temporary biological dressing derived from donated human skin that vascularizes to prepare the wound bed for autografting, but is eventually rejected by the recipient's immune system.

Integra (Bi-layered Dermal Template)

An artificial dermal template that vascularizes to form a neodermis layer of capillaries ready to receive an autograft once its outer silicone layer is removed.

Xenograft

A temporary biological coverage derived from animal skin that does not vascularize, remains pale in appearance, and protects clean wound beds until autograft harvesting is possible.

Hypermetabolism in Burn Injury

A hyperdynamic metabolic and catabolic state triggered by extensive burn injuries that leads to severe weight loss, cachexia, glucose intolerance, and hyperglycemia.

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

A complication arising from intra-abdominal hypertension during large-volume fluid resuscitation that can severely impair renal and respiratory function and lead to Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS).

Hydrofluoric Acid Burn

A chemical burn caused by a corrosive agent common in glass etching that penetrates tissue causing liquefactive necrosis and rapidly binds free blood calcium, creating a risk for severe hypocalcemia.

50% Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)

A topical chemical decontaminant that increases the solubility of phenol in water to allow rapid removal of phenol-based chemical agents from the skin.

Hypertrophic Scar

A rigid, raised, rope-like scar that typically develops $8\text{ to }12\,\text{weeks}$ post-wound closure and stays confined within the borders of the original wound.

Keloid Scar

An irregular cluster of scar tissue that grows at the site of a wound and extends beyond the margins of the original wound.

Intrinsic Plus Position

The optimal anti-deformity splinting position for hand burns involving the dorsum, characterized by the wrist at $30^\circ$ extension, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints flexed, and interphalangeal (IP) joints extended.

Tarsorrhaphy

A surgical procedure to temporarily or permanently sew the eyelids partially together, performed to prevent corneal damage in patients presenting with post-burn ectropion.

Pulmonary Toilet

A series of respiratory care interventions performed by the bedside nurse, including airway suctioning and oral hygiene, aimed at improving pulmonary function and preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Refeeding Syndrome

A metabolic condition occurring in malnourished burn patients upon reintroducing nutrition, characterized by sharp drops in serum electrolytes, nausea, weakness, and numbness, managed by reducing the enteral feed rate.

Silver Sulfadiazine (Silvadene)

A common topical antibacterial cream used on burn wounds that can cause transient leukopenia as a side effect.

Hydrogen Cyanide Toxicity

Smoke inhalation toxicity resulting from burning synthetic materials, which impairs cellular oxygen utilization and results in anaerobic metabolism, metabolic acidosis, high lactate, PVCs, severe hypotension, and respiratory arrest.

Carboxyhemoglobin Level Above 60%

A severe state of carbon monoxide poisoning clinically manifested by signs such as a weak pulse and irregular Cheyne-Stokes respirations.

Burn Center Surge Capacity

The calculated maximum bed capacity of a burn facility during a mass casualty event, equal to $1.5 \times$ the number of available burn-dedicated beds.

Pediatric Maintenance Fluid Formula (4-2-1 Rule)

A fluid administration formula using D5LR for pediatric patients under $14\,\text{years}$ calculated as $4\,\text{mL/kg/hr}$ for the first $10\,\text{kg}$, $2\,\text{mL/kg/hr}$ for the next $10\,\text{kg}$, and $1\,\text{mL/kg/hr}$ for each kg above $20\,\text{kg}$.

Fluorescein Examination

An eye evaluation using fluorescein dye under a Wood's lamp to assess the corneal surface for abrasions following chemical splashes or blast injuries.

Myoglobinuria in Electrical Injury

Dark, red-tinged urine caused by muscle breakdown following high-voltage electrical trauma, treated by increasing IV fluid resuscitation to achieve a target urine output of $1.0\text{ to }1.5\,\text{mL/kg/hr}$.

Rule of Nines

A clinical assessment method to estimate total body surface area percentage where each arm accounts for $9\%$, each leg accounts for $18\%$, and the anterior torso accounts for $18\%$, excluding superficial burns.

Modified ABA Fluid Resuscitation Formula

A burn shock resuscitation guideline recommending $2\,\text{mL LR} \times \text{weight (kg)} \times \text{TBSA}\%$ for initial fluid delivery over $24\,\text{hours}$, with half administered within the first $8\,\text{hours}$ post-injury.