A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following abdominal surgery and has a wound evisceration. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

The correct answer is choice b. Performing indwelling urinary catheter care.

Choice A rationale:

Changing the appliance on a new colostomy is a complex task that requires assessment and education, which should be performed by a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

Choice B rationale:

Performing indwelling urinary catheter care is a routine task that can be delegated to an assistive personnel (AP) as it involves basic hygiene and maintenance.

Choice C rationale:

Demonstrating how to use an incentive spirometer involves patient education and assessment of the patient’s technique, which should be done by an RN or LPN.

Choice D rationale:

Measuring the depth of a stage 3 pressure injury requires assessment skills and clinical judgment, which are beyond the scope of practice for an AP. This task should be performed by an RN or LPN.

The correct answer is D. Compare bilateral pedal pulses.

Rationale: The nurse should compare bilateral pedal pulses to assess for adequate circulation and perfusion to the lower extremities. Buck's traction is a type of skin traction that is widely used for broken femurs and hips, as well as fractures in the socket portion of the "ball-and-socket" hip joint (acetabular fractures). It uses splints, bandages, and adhesive tapes to position a limb near the fracture, then weights and pulleys are attached and pressure is applied. The nurse should not remove the weights for 20 min for the client's report of severe pain, as this would disrupt the alignment and traction of the fracture .

The nurse should not position the knot of the rope at the top of the pulley, as this would interfere with the smooth movement of the rope and reduce the effectiveness of traction. The nurse should not apply 6.8 kg (15 lb) of weight for use in traction, as this would exceed the recommended weight limit for skin traction and could cause skin damage or nerve injury. The weight should not exceed 4.5 kilograms at any point.