The nurse prepares a list of home care instructions for the parents of a child who has a plaster cast applied to the left forearm. Which instructions would be included on the list? Select all that apply.
Elevate the extremity on pillows for the first 24 to 48 hours after casting to prevent swelling.
Place a heating pad on the lower end of the cast and over the fingers if the fingers feel cold.
Keep small toys and sharp objects away from the cast.
Use a padded ruler or another padded object to scratch the skin under the cast if it itches.
Use the fingertips to lift the cast while it is drying
Contact the primary health care provider (PHCP) If the child complains of numbness or tingling in the extremity
Correct Answer : A,C,F
A. Elevate the extremity on pillows for the first 24 to 48 hours after casting to prevent swelling.
Explanation: Elevating the extremity can help reduce swelling, especially in the initial period after casting.
B. Place a heating pad on the lower end of the cast and over the fingers if the fingers feel cold.
Explanation: Applying heat can increase the risk of burns and is not recommended. If the fingers feel cold, it may indicate a circulation issue, and the healthcare provider should be contacted.
C. Keep small toys and sharp objects away from the cast.
Explanation: Keeping small toys and sharp objects away from the cast is important to prevent injury or damage to the cast.
D. Use a padded ruler or another padded object to scratch the skin under the cast if it itches.
Explanation: Inserting objects under the cast can lead to complications, including skin damage or infection. It is advisable not to insert anything into the cast.
E. Use the fingertips to lift the cast while it is drying.
Explanation: Lifting or manipulating the cast during the drying process can compromise its integrity and should be avoided. The cast needs to dry completely to provide proper support and immobilization.
F. Contact the primary health care provider (PHCP) if the child complains of numbness or tingling in the extremity.
Explanation: Numbness or tingling can indicate a circulation problem, and it is important to contact the healthcare provider for further assessment.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Use a padded tongue blade:
Incorrect: Inserting anything into the child's mouth, including a padded tongue blade, is not recommended during a seizure. It can lead to oral and airway injuries. It's important to keep the airway clear, but this is achieved by positioning the child laterally.
B. Position the child laterally.
Correct Answer: This is the correct action. Placing the child on their side helps prevent aspiration of fluids and promotes a clear airway during the seizure. It also reduces the risk of injury.
C. Restrain the child's arms:
Incorrect: Restraining the child's arms can increase the risk of injury and is not recommended during a seizure. It's crucial to ensure a safe environment and prevent injury, but physically restraining the child is not the appropriate approach.
D. Attempt to stop the seizure:
Incorrect: It is not within the nurse's capacity to immediately stop a seizure. Seizures are neurological events, and they need to run their course. The focus should be on ensuring the safety of the child during the seizure.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. "This shunting allows oxygenated and unoxygenated blood to mix."
Explanation: This statement is correct. In PDA, the shunting of blood between the aorta and pulmonary artery allows oxygenated and unoxygenated blood to mix, leading to decreased oxygen saturation in the systemic circulation.
B. "Blood is shunted to the right side of the heart."
Explanation: This statement is correct. In PDA, blood is shunted from the left side of the heart (aorta) to the right side of the heart (pulmonary artery).
C. "This shunting results in increased pulmonary blood flow."
Explanation: This statement is correct. PDA leads to increased pulmonary blood flow as a result of the shunting of blood from the aorta to the pulmonary artery.
D. "Blood is shunted to the left side of the heart."
Explanation:
A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect where the ductus arteriosus, a fetal blood vessel that normally closes shortly after birth, remains open. In PDA, blood is shunted from the aorta (left side of the heart) to the pulmonary artery (right side of the heart), resulting in increased pulmonary blood flow. Therefore, the correct statement is that "Blood is shunted to the right side of the heart."

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