A client is reporting pain in her casted leg. The nurse has administered analgesics and elevated the limb. Thirty minutes after administering the analgesics. the client states the pain is unrelieved. The nurse is unable to palpate the client's dorsalis pedis or posterior tibial pulse and the client's foot is pale. The nurse suspects compartment syndrome. What is the nurse's most appropriate action?

A. Morse Scale:

The Morse Scale, also known as the Morse Fall Scale, is used to assess a patient's risk of falling. It evaluates various factors such as history of falling, secondary diagnosis, ambulatory aids, IV therapy, gait, and mental status. It is primarily focused on assessing the risk of falls, not pressure ulcers.
B. Braden Scale:

As previously mentioned, the Braden Scale assesses a patient's risk for developing pressure ulcers. It takes into account sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear. The scale helps healthcare providers determine the level of risk a patient has for developing pressure sores and guides interventions to prevent them.

C. Bristol Scale:

The Bristol Stool Scale is used to classify the form of human feces into seven categories. It is a medical aid designed to classify the form of human feces into seven categories. This scale is primarily used to assess bowel movements and is unrelated to pressure ulcers.
D. Hendrich II Scale:

The Hendrich II Fall Risk Model is a tool designed to identify patients at risk for falls. It includes factors such as confusion, symptomatic depression, altered elimination, dizziness, male gender, and the use of antiepileptics, benzodiazepines, or non-opioid analgesics. Similar to the Morse Scale, it focuses on assessing the risk of falls, not pressure ulcers.

A. Avoiding the use of ice packs to treat muscle pain - While ice packs can cause skin damage in older adults with thinning skin, it is not the most appropriate response to the question. Protecting against shearing injuries is a more direct and specific concern related to thinning skin.

B. Protecting older adults against excessive sweat accumulation - Excessive sweat accumulation can lead to skin irritation, but this option does not directly address the issue of thinning skin as the primary concern in the question.

C. By protecting older adults against shearing injuries
Thinning skin in older adults makes them more vulnerable to skin injuries, especially shearing injuries. Shearing occurs when the skin is pulled in one direction while the underlying bone and tissues are pulled in the opposite direction. This can lead to skin tears and other wounds, which can be painful and slow to heal in older adults. Nurses should take special precautions to prevent shearing injuries, such as using lift sheets or sliding devices when moving patients, and ensuring that patients are repositioned frequently to reduce friction and shearing forces.

D. Avoiding the use of lotion on older adults' skin - Proper moisturization of the skin is important, especially in older adults, to prevent dryness and skin breakdown. Avoiding lotion is not a recommended practice; instead, choosing appropriate, non-irritating lotions can help maintain skin integrity.