A home health nurse is reinforcing teaching about home safety with an older adult client who lives alone. Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A. The client should use a hair dryer on a warm setting to relieve itching inside the cast is incorrect. Using a hair dryer could cause skin burns or damage the cast. Additionally, the client should avoid introducing moisture into the cast, which could lead to skin irritation or infection.

B. The client's extremity should be elevated after the cast is applied is correct. Elevating the extremity helps reduce swelling and inflammation during the initial phase after cast application. It is important to elevate the limb above the level of the heart to promote venous return and reduce swelling.

C. The client can shower with the cast after 24 hr is incorrect. The plaster cast should not get wet. The nurse should instruct the client to keep the cast dry at all times. A plastic cover or cast protector should be used when showering to prevent moisture from seeping into the cast.

D. The client should keep the cast covered until it is dry is incorrect. It is true that the cast should be kept dry, but keeping it covered is not enough. The primary concern is preventing moisture and ensuring the plaster cast is allowed to air dry in a well-ventilated area without getting wet.

A. Drying hands thoroughly from fingers to wrist is correct. Proper drying technique is important because residual moisture can harbor bacteria, and drying from fingers to wrist prevents recontamination of clean areas by water dripping from contaminated areas.

B. Holding hands slightly higher than the elbows when using running water is incorrect. The proper technique is to hold hands lower than the elbows to allow water to flow downward, preventing recontamination of clean areas by dirty water.

C. Washing hands under running water for at least 10 seconds is incorrect. The recommended duration for effective handwashing is at least 20 seconds with soap and water to ensure the removal of pathogens.

D. Cleaning hands with alcohol-based hand gel for 16 seconds is incorrect. The recommended time for using alcohol-based hand rubs is at least 20 seconds, ensuring thorough coverage of all surfaces for effective pathogen removal.