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A client is experiencing numbness and tingling distal to a new arm cast with no increase in pain. The nurse assesses that the client's fingers are pale, cool, and swollen. What action does the nurse take next?
Encourage range of motion
Apply heat to the affected hand
Remove the cast to decrease pressure
Raise the arm above the level of the heart
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: This is not the best action because encouraging range of motion can worsen the symptoms and cause more damage to the nerves and blood vessels. Range of motion is the movement of the joints and muscles through their normal extent. Range of motion can help to prevent stiffness, contractures, and muscle atrophy, but it can also increase the swelling and pressure in the affected area, which can impair the circulation and sensation.
Choice B reason: This is not the best action because applying heat to the affected hand can worsen the symptoms and cause more damage to the tissues. Heat is the transfer of thermal energy from a warmer object to a cooler one. Heat can help to relax the muscles, reduce the pain, and increase the blood flow, but it can also increase the inflammation and edema in the affected area, which can compromise the oxygen and nutrient delivery to the tissues.
Choice C reason: This is the best action because removing the cast can decrease the pressure and restore the circulation and sensation to the affected area. A cast is a rigid device that immobilizes and protects a fractured or injured body part. A cast can help to align the bones, prevent displacement, and promote healing, but it can also cause complications, such as compartment syndrome, infection, or nerve damage. Compartment syndrome is a condition where the pressure inside the muscles increases to dangerous levels, causing severe pain, reduced blood flow, and tissue death. The nurse should remove the cast immediately and notify the physician if the client shows signs of compartment syndrome, such as numbness, tingling, pallor, coolness, or swelling.
Choice D reason: This is not the best action because raising the arm above the level of the heart can worsen the symptoms and cause more damage to the nerves and blood vessels. Raising the arm above the level of the heart can help to reduce the swelling and pain in the affected area, but it can also reduce the blood flow and oxygenation to the area, which can lead to ischemia, necrosis, or gangrene. The nurse should elevate the arm at or below the level of the heart and monitor the pulse, color, temperature, and sensation of the fingers.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Providing active range of motion (ROM) is not a treatment that the nurse can perform for a quadriplegic client. Active ROM means that the client moves their own joints without assistance. A quadriplegic client has paralysis of all four limbs and cannot move their joints voluntarily.
Choice B reason: Providing passive range of motion (ROM) is a treatment that the nurse can perform for a quadriplegic client. Passive ROM means that the nurse moves the client's joints through their full range of motion without resistance. This helps prevent joint contracture, which is the loss of joint movement and flexibility due to muscle shortening and stiffness. It also helps maintain joint mobility, which is the ability of the joint to move smoothly and freely.
Choice C reason: Turning the client every 2 hours is not a treatment that the nurse can perform to decrease the risk of joint contracture and promote joint mobility. Turning the client every 2 hours is a preventive measure to avoid pressure ulcers, which are skin injuries caused by prolonged pressure on the skin. It does not directly affect the joint function or movement.
Choice D reason: Administering glucosamine supplements is not a treatment that the nurse can perform to decrease the risk of joint contracture and promote joint mobility. Glucosamine supplements are dietary supplements that may help reduce the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease that causes the breakdown of the cartilage and bone in the joints. It does not affect the muscle or nerve function or movement.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Properly disposing of contaminated equipment is an important infectioncontrol measure, but it is not the most effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens during client care. Contaminated equipment, such as gloves, gowns, masks, or needles, should be disposed of in designated containers or bags to prevent exposure or injury to others. However, this measure does not eliminate the risk of transmission of pathogens from the hands of the health care worker to the client or the environment.
Choice B reason: Discarding used syringes into appropriate containers is an important infectioncontrol measure, but it is not the most effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens during client care. Used syringes, especially those that contain blood or body fluids, should be discarded into punctureresistant, leakproof, and labeled containers to prevent needlestick injuries or exposure to others. However, this measure does not eliminate the risk of transmission of pathogens from the hands of the health care worker to the client or the environment.
Choice C reason: Changing soiled linens is an important infectioncontrol measure, but it is not the most effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens during client care. Soiled linens, especially those that contain blood or body fluids, should be changed and handled with gloves and minimal agitation to prevent contamination or aerosolization of pathogens. However, this measure does not eliminate the risk of transmission of pathogens from the hands of the health care worker to the client or the environment.
Choice D reason: Performing hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens during client care, because it reduces the number of microorganisms on the hands of the health care worker, which are the most common source and mode of transmission of infection. Hand hygiene should be performed before and after contact with the client, after contact with potentially infectious materials, after removing gloves, and before and after performing invasive procedures. Hand hygiene can be performed by washing with soap and water or using alcoholbased hand rubs.
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