As the nurse manager in the burn unit, which client is best to assign to an RN who has floated from the oncology unit?

• A. 23-year-old who has just been admitted with burns over 30% of the body after a warehouse fire
• B. 36-year-old who requires discharge teaching about nutrition and wound care after having skin grafts
• C. 45-year-old with infected partial-thickness back and chest burns who has a dressing change scheduled
• D. 57-year-old with full-thickness burns on both arms who needs assistance in positioning hand splints

Answer: (C)

The main idea is matching the floated nurse’s strengths to an acutely appropriate task in the burn unit. An oncology nurse often has strong skills in sterile technique, infection control, and wound care, plus the ability to provide clear wound-care teaching. A dressing change for an infected partial-thickness burn is a routine, high-priority wound-care task that requires meticulous aseptic technique, assessment for signs of infection, pain management, and instruction to the patient or family. This fits the float nurse’s background and keeps the patient safe, while still being within the scope of an RN.

High-acuity burn care, like a patient with extensive burns who needs airway management or fluid resuscitation, demands a burn-critical care team and resources that go beyond what a float from oncology would typically manage. Discharge teaching about nutrition and wound care is important but not an immediate inpatient priority, and assisting with hand-splint positioning involves rehabilitation concepts and specific burn-splint protocols that may require closer collaboration with burn therapists.

So, the best assignment is the patient with an infected partial-thickness burn who has a dressing change scheduled, as it aligns with the float nurse’s strengths and maintains patient safety in a burn care setting.