RN Nursing · Burns · Practice question
A client presents to the emergency department following a chemical burn from an industrial solvent. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
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Cover the burn with a sterile dressing immediately.
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Perform a pain assessment and administer analgesics.
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Administer liberal oral fluids to maintain hydration.
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✓
Initiate running water irrigation of the affected area.
Answer & explanation
Correct: Initiate running water irrigation of the affected area.
For a chemical burn caused by an industrial solvent, the immediate and highest priority intervention is continuous running water irrigation of the affected area. This dilutes and removes the chemical agent from the skin and mucous membranes, limiting the depth and extent of tissue destruction. The principle is that every second the chemical remains in contact with tissue causes additional injury, so irrigation must begin immediately and continue for at least 15 to 20 minutes — sometimes longer for alkali burns. Covering the burn with a sterile dressing before removing the chemical would trap the agent against the skin and worsen the injury, making it inappropriate as a first step. Performing a pain assessment and administering analgesics is important but is a secondary intervention; managing the source of ongoing tissue damage takes precedence. Administering liberal oral fluids is relevant for systemic fluid resuscitation in large burns but does not address the immediate chemical exposure and could be unsafe if gastrointestinal involvement is suspected. Copious water irrigation is the universally recognized first-line intervention for all chemical burns and aligns with emergency management principles.
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