A nurse is caring for a newly admitted patient following a burn injury. The nurse suspects an inhalation injury. Which of the following assessment findings would support the nurse's suspicion?

Explanation

• Physical findings indicative of inhalation injury include stridor, dyspnea, singed nasal hair or oral mucosal burns, soot in the sputum, facial burns, and wheezing.

• Tachycardia and low urine output do frequently occur with some burn injuries but are not specific to inhalation injuries.

• Sputum is usually black from soot, not red-tinged.

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