What should a nurse plan when caring for a child with superficial partial-thickness burns over 50% of their body?

When caring for a child with superficial partial-thickness burns covering over 50% of their body, it is crucial to address their nutritional needs effectively. This child is likely to be in a hypermetabolic state due to the extent of their injury, which increases their nutritional requirements significantly. Supplementing the child’s feedings with enteral feedings ensures they receive adequate calories, proteins, and nutrients essential for healing and recovery.

Enteral feedings can be beneficial because they provide necessary nutrition in an easily digestible form, supplementing oral intake, especially if the child has a reduced appetite or difficulty eating due to pain or discomfort. Supporting nutritional needs through enteral feedings can help prevent malnutrition, promote wound healing, and improve overall recovery outcomes.

The other considerations, such as limiting nutritional intake to clear liquids or focusing solely on oral nutrition without supplements, do not address the increased caloric and protein demands effectively and could hinder recovery. Encouraging small, frequent meals may be beneficial but might not be sufficient on its own due to the severity of the burns and the child’s unique circumstances. Therefore, the best approach combines both oral nutrition and supplemental enteral feedings to meet the comprehensive needs of the child during the healing process.