A nurse is caring for a client who has balanced skeletal traction with a Thomas splint for the treatment of a fracture of the femur. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent skin breakdown?

Apply lotion to the skin around the edges of the splint.

Turn the client every 4 hr.

Pad the top of the splint with protective dressings.

The nurse should apply a footplate to the bed.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: Applying lotion to the skin around the edges of the splint may increase moisture and friction, which can contribute to skin breakdown. It is better to use protective dressings to reduce friction.

Choice B reason: Turning the client every 4 hours is not frequent enough. Clients in skeletal traction should be repositioned frequently, typically every 2 hours, to prevent pressure ulcers and maintain skin integrity.

Choice C reason: The correct answer is c because padding the top of the splint with protective dressings helps reduce friction and pressure on the skin, preventing skin breakdown and ensuring the client's comfort.

Choice D reason: Applying a footplate to the bed is not directly related to preventing skin breakdown. The primary focus should be on reducing friction and pressure around the splint.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: An open fracture, while needing medical attention, is not immediately life-threatening. The client's condition is stable enough to wait while more critical cases are attended to.

Choice B reason: A penetrating head injury with seizures is a critical condition. However, ensuring a patent airway takes precedence in emergency situations. This client's seizures indicate serious brain injury, but the immediate threat to life, such as airway obstruction, must be prioritized.

Choice C reason: Severe respiratory stridor and a deviated trachea indicate a life-threatening airway obstruction. This client needs immediate attention to secure the airway and prevent respiratory failure. This is the highest priority because without a clear airway, the client will not survive long enough to benefit from other interventions.

Choice D reason: A partial-thickness burn, although painful and requiring treatment, is not immediately life-threatening. This client can safely wait while those with more critical needs are attended to.

A. "Russell's traction uses a sling under the knee to treat a fracture of the femur." B. "Russell's traction uses a cervical halter to decrease cervical muscle spasms." C. "Russell's traction uses a pelvic girdle belt to decrease lower back pain." D. "Russell's traction uses skeletal pins to stabilize the fracture."

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Russell's traction involves the use of a sling under the knee to apply a pulling force on the femur. This helps in aligning and stabilizing the fractured femur, allowing for proper healing. The sling supports the leg, while weights provide the necessary traction force.

Choice B reason: A cervical halter is used in cervical traction to relieve muscle spasms and align the cervical spine, not in Russell's traction. This type of traction is not related to treating femur fractures.

Choice C reason: A pelvic girdle belt is used in pelvic traction to relieve lower back pain and stabilize pelvic fractures, not in Russell's traction. Russell's traction specifically pertains to femur fractures.

Choice D reason: Skeletal pins are used in skeletal traction, where pins are inserted into the bone to apply direct traction. Russell's traction, however, does not use skeletal pins; it uses a sling and weights to apply traction.

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A nurse is caring for a client who has balanced skeletal traction with a Thomas splint for the treatment of a fracture of the femur. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent skin breakdown?

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