A nurse is giving discharge instructions to the parents of a child who has a broken arm and has just been fitted with a fiberglass cast. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

Choice A reason: A 10-mL syringe produces high pressure, risking tissue damage during wound irrigation; low-pressure flow is safer. Assuming a 10-mL syringe is appropriate risks harming the wound, critical to avoid in ensuring gentle, effective irrigation for abdominal incision healing in wound care.

Choice B reason: Irrigating with low-pressure flow (e.g., 35-mL syringe or irrigation system) gently cleanses the abdominal incision, preventing tissue trauma while removing debris. This is critical for infection prevention, promoting healing, and ensuring safe wound care, essential for effective management of surgical incisions in clients.

Choice C reason: Cleansing from bottom to top risks dragging contaminants into the wound; top-to-bottom is standard. Assuming upward cleansing is correct risks infection, critical to prevent in ensuring proper wound hygiene and healing for clients with abdominal incisions during wound care.

Choice D reason: Cleansing drain sites involves circular motion from center outward, not inward, to avoid contamination. Low-pressure irrigation is key for wounds. Assuming inward motion is correct risks infection, critical to avoid in ensuring proper wound and drain care for abdominal incisions.

Choice A reason: Swimming is contraindicated with a fiberglass cast, as water exposure risks skin irritation or cast damage. A hair dryer relieves itching. Allowing swimming risks infection or cast breakdown, critical to avoid in ensuring proper healing and parental education for children with arm casts.

Choice B reason: Positioning the arm in a sling at bedtime is unnecessary; elevation on pillows promotes circulation. A hair dryer addresses itching. Assuming a sling is required risks discomfort, critical to prevent in ensuring proper cast care and comfort for children post-fracture.

Choice C reason: Using a hair dryer on a cool setting safely relieves itching under a fiberglass cast, preventing skin irritation from scratching. This instruction is critical for comfort, ensuring proper cast care, supporting healing, and educating parents on safe management of a child’s arm cast post-injury.

Choice D reason: Checking finger movement every 6 hours is insufficient; frequent checks (e.g., every 2-4 hours) ensure circulation. A hair dryer is correct for itching. Assuming 6-hour checks risks delayed detection of complications, critical to avoid in ensuring safe cast care for children with fractures.