CBRN Patient Education & Psychosocial Support 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A burn survivor expresses shame about visible facial scarring before returning to work. Which psychosocial intervention is MOST appropriate?
- Reassure the patient that scars will fade with time
- Refer to a peer support specialist who is also a burn survivor (Correct answer)
- Advise the patient to delay returning to work until scars mature
- Prescribe anxiolytics to reduce social anxiety
Correct answer: Refer to a peer support specialist who is also a burn survivor
Peer support specialists with lived burn experience provide validated emotional support and practical coping strategies that clinicians alone cannot replicate.
Question 2: When educating a patient about scar management, which statement best describes the purpose of compression garments?
- They prevent infection by creating a sterile barrier
- They reduce hypertrophic scar formation by applying continuous pressure (Correct answer)
- They eliminate the need for moisturizer application
- They accelerate wound closure by increasing local perfusion
Correct answer: They reduce hypertrophic scar formation by applying continuous pressure
Compression garments apply continuous pressure (20–25 mmHg) that flattens and softens hypertrophic scars by reducing collagen overproduction.
Question 3: A burn patient's family member asks, 'Should we avoid talking about the accident at home?' What is the nurse's best guidance?
- Yes, discussing the accident increases PTSD risk
- No, open communication at the family's pace supports emotional processing (Correct answer)
- Only discuss it during formal therapy sessions
- Limit discussion to factual details and avoid emotional topics
Correct answer: No, open communication at the family's pace supports emotional processing
Open, supportive communication at a pace comfortable for the survivor facilitates healthy emotional processing and reduces isolation.
Question 4: Which screening tool is MOST commonly recommended to assess PTSD symptoms in adult burn survivors?
- Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
- PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) (Correct answer)
- Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)
- Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
Correct answer: PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
The PCL-5 is a validated 20-item self-report measure aligned with DSM-5 PTSD criteria and widely used in burn populations.
Question 5: A patient with hand burns is learning dressing changes at home. Which educational approach best promotes self-efficacy?
- Provide a detailed written manual and discharge the patient
- Demonstrate the procedure, then observe the patient perform a return demonstration (Correct answer)
- Show an instructional video and ask if they have questions
- Have a family member learn the technique instead of the patient
Correct answer: Demonstrate the procedure, then observe the patient perform a return demonstration
Return demonstration verifies skill acquisition and builds patient confidence through hands-on practice under supervision.
Question 6: Which factor is MOST predictive of long-term psychosocial adjustment in adult burn survivors?
- Total body surface area (TBSA) burned
- Perceived social support from family and peers (Correct answer)
- Length of hospital stay
- Number of surgical procedures required
Correct answer: Perceived social support from family and peers
Research consistently shows that perceived social support is the strongest predictor of positive psychosocial outcomes, independent of injury severity.
Question 7: A patient expresses fear of intimacy with their partner after sustaining burns to the trunk. The nurse's FIRST response should be:
- Refer immediately to a sex therapist
- Acknowledge the concern and invite the partner to a joint education session (Correct answer)
- Reassure the patient that intimacy concerns usually resolve on their own
- Document the concern and address it at the next outpatient visit
Correct answer: Acknowledge the concern and invite the partner to a joint education session
Acknowledging the concern validates the patient's experience, and including the partner supports open communication and shared coping.
CBRN Patient Education & Psychosocial Support 2
A burn survivor expresses shame about visible facial scarring before returning to work.
Which psychosocial intervention is MOST appropriate?