What term would the nurse use to document the burn depth for a patient with dry, pale, hard skin and no pain?

The term that best describes the condition of the burn with dry, pale, hard skin and no pain is full-thickness skin destruction. This type of burn affects all layers of the skin, including the epidermis, dermis, and may even involve deeper tissues like subcutaneous fat. The key indicators in this scenario are the characteristics of the skin: it is dry, pale, and hard, which suggests significant damage to the skin's structure where nerve endings are destroyed, resulting in a lack of pain sensation.

Full-thickness burns can also appear leathery and may have a charred appearance. Because they destroy nerve endings, patients often do not feel pain in the area of the burn, which aligns with the symptoms described. As such, it requires more intensive treatment and often necessitates surgical intervention, such as skin grafting, for proper healing.

The other options do not fit this presentation as clearly. First-degree burns are superficial, affecting only the epidermis and presenting with redness and pain. Deep partial-thickness burns involve more layers and can cause pain due to intact nerve endings but would not present as hard and pale. Superficial partial-thickness burns affect the upper layers of the dermis and generally result in blisters and significant pain.