A nurse is caring for a client who had a fiberglass cast applied 30 min ago for a fractured tibia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Maintain affected leg elevated on several pillows.
Instruct the client to wiggle the toes once every 4 hr.
Use a hair dryer to promote drying of the cast.
Apply heat to the client's cast to provide pain relief.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
The nurse should maintain the affected leg elevated on several pillows to reduce swelling and promote venous return. Elevating the leg helps minimize edema, which can be beneficial for the healing process and overall comfort of the client.
Choice B rationale:
Instructing the client to wiggle the toes once every 4 hours is not necessary and may cause discomfort to the fractured tibia. Toe wiggling does not provide any significant benefit in this context and could potentially disrupt the healing process.
Choice C rationale:
Using a hair dryer to promote drying of the cast is not recommended. Applying heat to the fiberglass cast may alter its integrity and lead to uneven drying, potentially weakening the cast's support.
Choice D rationale:
Applying heat to the client's cast for pain relief is not advisable. Heat may also weaken the cast material and is unlikely to provide effective pain relief for a fractured tibia. Instead, the nurse should follow the prescribed pain management plan and use appropriate pain medications as ordered by the healthcare provider.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Applying clean gloves when removing the old dressing from the catheter site is essential to prevent infection and maintain an aseptic technique during peritoneal dialysis catheter care. Gloves protect both the nurse and the patient from potential contamination.
Choice B rationale:
Cleansing the area by using a circular motion beginning at the catheter site and moving outward is not the correct technique. When caring for a dialysis catheter, the nurse should cleanse the site using an outward, circular motion starting from the insertion site to minimize the risk of contamination.
Choice C rationale:
Using warm water to cleanse the catheter site is not recommended. The peritoneal dialysis catheter site should be cleaned with an appropriate antiseptic solution or disinfectant, as warm water alone may not effectively remove bacteria or prevent infections.
Choice D rationale:
Placing an occlusive dressing over the catheter site after cleaning is not the standard practice for peritoneal dialysis catheter care. Typically, a clean, dry dressing is applied to the catheter site after cleaning to keep it clean and dry, but it should not be occlusive.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
A blood glucose level of 100 mg/dL is within the normal range, so there is no need to notify the provider of this finding.
Choice B rationale:
A client's temperature of 37.6°C (99.7°F) is slightly elevated but not considered a critical finding. It may be indicative of an infection or other mild inflammation, but it does not warrant immediate provider notification.
Choice C rationale:
A potassium level of 5.7 mEq/L is above the normal range (3.5-5.0 mEq/L). Hyperkalemia can lead to serious cardiac complications, such as arrhythmias, and requires immediate attention from the provider.
Choice D rationale:
Weight loss of 0.8 kg/day (1.8 lb/day) should be evaluated and monitored, but it is not an immediate concern that warrants urgent provider notification.
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