A nurse is caring for a client following application of a cast. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Place an ice pack over the cast.
Position the casted extremity on a pillow.
Teach the client to keep the cast clean and dry.
Palpate the pulse distal to the cast.
The Correct Answer is D
A. Place an ice pack over the cast. While this can help reduce swelling and pain, it is a comfort measure, not the priority. Safety assessments must be completed first before implementing non-urgent interventions.
B. Position the casted extremity on a pillow. Elevation is important to reduce swelling, but it follows after ensuring that circulation to the extremity is intact and that there are no signs of vascular compromise.
C. Teach the client to keep the cast clean and dry. Education is essential for long-term cast care, but it is not the first action after cast application. Immediate post-procedural monitoring takes precedence.
D. Palpate the pulse distal to the cast. The nurse should first assess for adequate circulation by checking distal pulses. This helps identify early signs of complications like compartment syndrome or impaired blood flow, making it the highest priority.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Able to unzip a zipper. This fine motor skill typically develops closer to age 2 to 3 years. At 15 months, most toddlers do not yet have the dexterity required to manipulate clothing fasteners.
B. Builds a tower of 4 cubes. A 15-month-old can usually build a tower of 2 to 3 cubes, while building a tower of 4 or more cubes is more typical around 18 to 24 months.
C. Throws a ball without falling. While some toddlers may attempt to throw a ball, doing so without falling is more characteristic of children around 18 months or older as balance improves.
D. Walks without help. This is an expected milestone by 12 to 15 months. Most toddlers at 15 months are able to walk independently, though gait may still be wide-based and unsteady.
Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"E","dropdown-group-2":"C"}
Explanation
The client presents with symptoms suggestive of severe preeclampsia, including headache, nausea, right upper quadrant pain, facial and dependent edema, rapid weight gain, and 3+ deep tendon reflexes (hyperreflexia). Hyperreflexia is a sign of central nervous system irritability, which can precede seizures (eclampsia) and increase the risk for placental abruption—a premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall. This is a medical emergency that can result in fetal and maternal complications.
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