Considered advanced practice professionals, burn unit nurses use special clinical skills to effectively provide comprehensive patient care.
Because the range of burn types they may encounter varies, they need to be knowledgeable in a large array of treatments.
Technical responsibilities include triage, stabilization, pain management and fluid balance.
They may also help with rehabilitation, and provide consistent emotional support.
Additionally, burn unit nurses must understand how to manage a patient's coinciding injuries.
To do this, burn unit nurses often work alongside teams of healthcare professionals, including other nurses, physicians, psychologists, pain management experts and physical therapists.
Those in this profession are often employed in burn care units, intensive care, trauma centers and emergency rooms.