The key idea here is to avoid putting anything on a burn wound at home. Introducing meds, ointments, oils, butter, or other substances can trap heat, contaminate the wound, or irritate tissue, which can hinder healing and make it harder for a clinician to assess the burn later. The safer approach is to lightly cool the area with cool running water and protect it with a clean, dry cloth while monitoring for severity. Seek medical care if the burn is large or involves the face, hands, feet, joints, or genitals, or if signs of infection appear.

LPNs typically administer medications through routes that are straightforward and commonly delegated, namely oral, subcutaneous, and intramuscular. Oral medications are the most common and simplest to administer, requiring basic dosing checks and patient guidance. Subcutaneous injections are given into the fatty tissue under the skin and are a routine method for certain vaccines and medications with slower absorption. Intramuscular injections deliver meds into muscle tissue for quicker absorption and are also commonly handled by LPNs under proper orders and policies. Routes that involve intravenous access, intrathecal delivery, or epidural administration require higher levels of licensure and specialized training because they carry higher risk, require more intensive monitoring, and are typically performed by RNs, anesthesia providers, or other advanced clinicians. Therefore, the option that lists oral, subcutaneous, and intramuscular routes is the one aligned with typical LPN scope. Always follow your facility’s policies and the written orders, and monitor the patient for adverse effects or complications, escalating as needed.

Hydroxychloroquine is favored for treating the skin and joint manifestations of lupus because it modulates the immune response in a way that reduces both skin rashes and joint inflammation without the broad, rapid suppression seen with steroids. It helps control mucocutaneous lupus (rash, photosensitivity) and lupus arthropathy over time and also lowers the frequency of disease flares, making it a cornerstone of long-term management. Mechanistically, it dampens immune signaling that drives inflammation, which translates into better skin and joint symptoms while generally having a more favorable safety profile than sustained high-dose corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants. Prednisone may quickly quell inflammation during a flare but isn’t the long-term solution for skin and arthritis. Methotrexate and azathioprine can be used for arthritis or more severe organ involvement, but they’re not the first-line choices specifically for skin and joint symptoms in lupus. Hydroxychloroquine stands out for these manifestations and is commonly continued as maintenance therapy. If used, it requires regular eye exams due to the risk of retinal toxicity.

Holding metformin around IV iodinated contrast is essential because the contrast can temporarily impair kidney function, reducing metformin’s excretion. If metformin accumulates when renal function is affected, there’s a risk of lactic acidosis, a serious complication. That’s why it’s stopped on the day of contrast exposure and for a period afterward (commonly 24–48 hours, then resumed once renal function is stable). The other medications listed don’t carry the same acute risk with contrast and don’t require discontinuation solely for a contrast study.