Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

This statement is true. While both strong acids and alkalis can cause severe burns, alkali burns are often more damaging. Alkalis penetrate deeper into tissues, causing liquefaction necrosis, which results in more extensive and prolonged damage. They continue to cause injury for longer periods, even after initial contact. Acids, on the other hand, typically cause coagulation necrosis, which forms a protective eschar that can limit further tissue penetration. This difference in mechanism makes alkali burns generally more severe and challenging to treat. Emergency nurses should be aware of this distinction to properly assess the potential severity of chemical burns and initiate appropriate treatment protocols.