A nurse is planning care for a client who is preoperative for a surgical procedure. The nurse should identify that which of the following tasks is outside of their scope of practice?

Rationale:

A. Assist the client with dangling off the side of the bed: Early ambulation is important in the postoperative period to prevent complications such as atelectasis or deep vein thrombosis. However, it is not the first action when an elevated temperature is observed, as the cause of the fever must be assessed first.

B. Check the condition of the client's surgical incision: Inspecting the surgical site addresses a potential source of infection, which is a common cause of postoperative fever. This direct assessment helps determine whether local inflammation, drainage, or other signs of infection are present and guides further intervention.

C. Instruct the client to breathe deeply and cough: Encouraging deep breathing and coughing promotes lung expansion and reduces the risk of atelectasis and pneumonia, other causes of postoperative fever. While beneficial, checking the incision for infection is a more direct and immediate assessment for a common and serious cause of postoperative fever.

D. Obtain a prescription to check the client's CBC: A CBC can provide useful information on infection or inflammation, but obtaining lab orders should come after performing a focused assessment to gather immediate, observable data that may warrant urgent action.

Rationale:

A. Decreased skin turgor: Decreased skin turgor is a sign of dehydration or fluid imbalance and is not related to compartment syndrome. It does not reflect changes in perfusion or nerve compression caused by increased compartment pressure.

B. Sensation of tingling: Tingling or paresthesia is an early sign of nerve compression due to rising pressure within a muscle compartment. It indicates compromised nerve function and is a key symptom of evolving compartment syndrome.

C. Diminished capillary refill: Delayed or diminished capillary refill suggests impaired perfusion. In a newly placed cast, this can indicate increased pressure restricting blood flow—an early and critical sign of compartment syndrome.

D. Pale-colored toes: Pallor in the extremities is a sign of decreased arterial blood flow. Pale-colored toes after cast placement suggest compromised circulation, which is consistent with compartment syndrome.

E. Pain relieved by analgesia: Pain that is unrelieved by analgesia especially pain out of proportion to the injury is a hallmark of compartment syndrome. Pain that is relieved by medication does not indicate compartment syndrome and may reflect expected postoperative discomfort.