A patient sustains a closed femur fracture of the right tibia and is placed in a long leg plaster cast, which is still damp. Which of the following methods should the nurse use to move the cast to prevent complications?
Use your palms to move the cast.
Do not move the cast until it is dry.
Have the patient reposition their own leg.
Use your fingertips to grasp the cast.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Use your palms to move the cast. Using the palms prevents indentations that can cause pressure points and potential injury to the patient.
B. Do not move the cast until it is dry. The cast may need to be moved for various reasons, and waiting until it is completely dry may not be practical or safe.
C. Have the patient reposition their own leg. The patient should not move the leg to prevent potential damage or misalignment.
D. Use your fingertips to grasp the cast. Using fingertips can create pressure points and indentations in the still-damp plaster, potentially causing skin breakdown or pressure sores.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. There is numbness and tingling sensations in the surgical limb. Numbness and tingling may indicate neurovascular compromise, such as compartment syndrome or nerve damage, requiring immediate medical attention.
B. Surgical pain is a 4 on a scale 0-10. Pain at a level 4 postoperatively is generally manageable and expected. It does not indicate an immediate complication.
C. The foot on the surgical limb is slightly cooler than the other limb. While a slightly cooler foot could be a concern, it is less urgent than numbness and tingling. Monitoring and comparing with other symptoms are necessary.
D. There are +2 pulses and the surgical limb is pink in color. This indicates good circulation and is a positive sign, not requiring immediate reporting.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Acutely inflamed joints respond best to heat therapy. Heat therapy is generally used to relieve chronic stiffness in RA but acutely inflamed joints typically respond better to cold therapy to reduce inflammation.
B. It’s important to monitor all body systems for effects of the disease. Correct. RA is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple body systems, not just the joints, unlike osteoarthritis, which is primarily a degenerative joint disease.
C. Exercise is poorly tolerated and frequent rest is needed. While rest is important during acute flare-ups, regular, gentle exercise is crucial in managing RA to maintain joint function and muscle strength.
D. Injury and age are the greatest contributors to disease development. RA is an autoimmune disorder with a different etiology than osteoarthritis, which is more related to wear and tear and aging.
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