Which type of burn must be charted in the patient note but is not included in the TBSA?

When assessing burns, the Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) is often calculated to determine the severity and treatment plan for a patient. However, superficial burns, such as those classified as first degree, typically do not impact the TBSA calculation because they only affect the outermost layer of skin, resulting in minimal tissue damage.

These burns can include mild sunburns that may cause redness and pain but do not usually blister or present with more severe symptoms. It is important to chart these superficial burns in the patient note to provide a complete clinical picture, but they do not necessitate a TBSA calculation since their contribution to overall injury severity is minimal.

In contrast, second, third, and fourth degree burns involve deeper layers of the skin and cause significant tissue damage, warranting careful evaluation and inclusion in TBSA calculations to guide treatment decisions and fluid resuscitation as needed.