Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) Exam practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q1The nurse in the burn unit needs to select an appropriate topical agent for a patient with a significant risk of infection after a chemical burn on their leg. They are considering mafenide acetate. What is the primary reason for choosing this topical agent? Topical Agent Purpose Mafenide Acetate Inhibits pathogenic organisms Silver Sulfadiazine Promotes healing and prevents infection Lidocaine Gel Decreases pain Hydrogel Maintains moisture in tissue
✓ Correct answer: D. Inhibits pathogenic organisms
Answer: Inhibits pathogenic organisms Mafenide acetate is known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, making it suitable for preventing or treating infections in burn patients. Unlike agents that primarily promote healing or reduce pain, its primary function is to control microbial growth and penetration in burn eschar, which is crucial in preventing infections.
Q2In the rehabilitation phase of burn recovery, what aspect of support is most crucial for a burn survivor's psychological recovery?
✓ Correct answer: D. Emotional and social support from family and community
While physical therapy, nutrition, and medical assessments are important for physical health, emotional and social support is crucial for psychological recovery. This support helps burn survivors reintegrate into family and community life, which is essential for long-term psychosocial recovery.
Q3While monitoring a patient with a severe burn injury, you notice rough, discolored patches on the patient's heels that remain red even if you press on them. This condition has likely developed due to the pressure caused by the patient's immobility. How would you classify this type of injury?
✓ Correct answer: B. Grade I
Answer: Grade I A pressure injury consists of localized skin and underlying soft tissue damage usually over a bony prominence or related to a medical device. These injuries most often occur in areas where pressure, shearing force, and moisture have damaged the skin and tissue layers. Grading for pressure injuries consists of a four-grade scale, with Grade I ulcers being the least extensive and Grade IV being the most extensive. A pressure injury with non-blanchable erythema and no breaks in the skin would represent a Grade I injury.
Q4You are attending to a female patient who has sustained multiple lacerations from debris during a natural disaster. A tetanus booster will be needed if the patient has not received a tetanus shot within which timeframe?
✓ Correct answer: D. Past 3-5 years
Answer: Past 3-5 years Lacerations and wounds are considered tetanus-prone. Tetanus is preventable through immunization, and ensuring proper vaccination status is critical. In scenarios involving potentially contaminated wounds, it is best practice to verify and supplement tetanus immunization if it has not been administered in the past 3-5 years. If the last booster was more than 10 years ago, a dose of tetanus antitoxin may also be needed.
Q5A 5-year-old girl spilled a pot of boiling water on her left thigh. Upon examination, the skin appears leathery and is insensate to touch. Based on this assessment, what is the most likely depth of her burn?
✓ Correct answer: C. Third-degree burn
Answer: Third-degree burn A third-degree (full-thickness) burn is characterized by a leathery texture, insensate skin, and waxy appearance. The burn does not heal on its own, requiring skin grafting to promote healing and prevent complications. In contrast, a first-degree burn would present as red and painful, a second-degree burn would show blistering and be very painful, and a fourth-degree burn would involve deeper tissues like muscle or bone and would appear charred.
Q6In the context of healing a burned area on the skin, which of the following cells is not primarily involved during the proliferative phase of wound repair?
✓ Correct answer: A. Platelets
Answer: Platelets The primary cells involved in the proliferative phase are fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and keratinocytes. Platelets play a crucial role in the hemostasis phase rather than in the proliferation phase of wound healing.
Q7You are counseling a patient who is recovering from a burn injury about the benefits of maintaining a balanced diet and how it supports the healing process. Which nutrient should they focus on increasing in their diet to promote tissue repair and immune function?
✓ Correct answer: A. Protein
Protein is crucial for tissue repair and regeneration as it provides the building blocks required for new tissue formation. Carbohydrates and fats are important energy sources, and Vitamin D is essential for bone health, but they aren't as directly involved in tissue repair and immune function as protein.
Q8What is the most effective route for administering sedatives to pediatric burn patients in the acute post-burn phase?
✓ Correct answer: D. Intravenously
Intravenous administration is the most effective route for sedative delivery in pediatric burn patients during the acute phase because it provides rapid and reliable sedation levels, crucial for both pain management and procedural sedation. Oral and rectal routes are less preferred due to altered gastrointestinal function and unpredictable absorption. Transdermal options are not typically used in acute settings due to slower onset and inconsistent delivery.
Q9While working in a chemical plant, a worker suffers a burn on their arm due to exposure to a chemical substance. Which type of burn will continue to cause progressive skin damage until appropriately treated?
✓ Correct answer: C. Alkali burns
Answer: Alkali burns Alkali burns penetrate skin more deeply through liquefaction necrosis, continuing to cause damage until the alkali is effectively removed. These burns require specific treatment through irrigation and neutralization. Acidic burns, on the other hand, are typically self-limiting as they create coagulation necrosis which forms a barrier to further penetration. Thermal burns do not continue to cause damage once the source of heat is removed. Generic chemical burns depend on the substance for severity and need for treatment, and do not specify the progressive nature like alkali burns.
Q10A pediatric burn patient weighs 15 kg. Using the dosing guidelines provided, calculate the appropriate total dose of pain medication in milligrams (mg) for this patient. Weight Category (kg) Dose per kg (mg) 5-10 2 11-20 3 21-30 4 31-40 5
✓ Correct answer: B. 45 mg
The patient weighs 15 kg, which falls into the 11-20 kg category. The dose per kg for this category is 3 mg. Thus, the total dose is calculated by multiplying the dose per kg by the weight: $$3 \times 15 = 45$$ mg.
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