What should the nurse do first if they are stuck by a needle?

Choice A reason: A bone fragment has injured the nerve supply in the area is not the best response by the nurse. This may be a possible complication of a fracture, but it does not explain the mechanism of compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome is a condition where the pressure within a closed space (such as a muscle compartment) exceeds the perfusion pressure and causes ischemia and necrosis of the tissues. A bone fragment may damage the nerve, but it does not cause increased pressure in the compartment.

Choice B reason: An injured artery causes impaired arterial perfusion through the compartment is not the best response by the nurse. This may be a possible cause of compartment syndrome, but it is not the most common one. Compartment syndrome is more often caused by venous obstruction than arterial obstruction. An injured artery may reduce the blood flow to the compartment, but it does not cause increased pressure in the compartment.

Choice C reason: Bleeding and swelling cause increased pressure in an area that cannot expand is the best response by the nurse. This is the most common cause of compartment syndrome and explains the pathophysiology of the condition. Bleeding and swelling are the result of inflammation and tissue injury that occur after a fracture. They increase the volume of fluid in the compartment, which cannot expand due to the rigid fascia that surrounds it. This leads to increased pressure in the compartment, which compresses the blood vessels, nerves, and muscles and causes ischemia and necrosis of the tissues.

Choice D reason: The fascia expands with injury, causing pressure on underlying nerves and muscles is not the best response by the nurse. This is not a correct statement, as the fascia does not expand with injury. The fascia is a tough connective tissue that encloses the muscle compartments and limits their expansion. The fascia is part of the problem, not the cause, of compartment syndrome. The fascia prevents the compartment from accommodating the increased volume of fluid and causes increased pressure in the compartment.

Choice A reason: Removing the nursing diagnosis in the plan of care since it has not occurred is not a good action, because it does not account for the possibility of future impairment. The client is still at risk for impaired skin integrity due to the prolonged bed rest, and the nurse should continue to monitor and prevent any skin breakdown.

Choice B reason: Keeping the nursing diagnosis in the plan of care the same since the risk factors are still present is the best action, because it reflects the current situation and the potential problem. The client has not developed impaired skin integrity, but the risk factors have not changed. The nurse should maintain the interventions that have been effective in preventing skin impairment, such as turning, repositioning, moisturizing, and inspecting the skin.

Choice C reason: Modifying the nursing diagnosis in the plan of care to impaired skin integrity is not a good action, because it does not match the data. The client has not shown any signs of impaired skin integrity, such as redness, blanching, breakdown, or ulceration. The nurse should not change the diagnosis based on assumptions or predictions, but on evidence.

Choice D reason: Changing the nursing diagnosis in the plan of care to impaired mobility is not a good action, because it does not address the original problem. The client may have impaired mobility due to the bed rest, but that is not the focus of the question. The question is about the risk for impaired skin integrity, which is a different issue that requires different interventions. The nurse should not ignore or replace the existing diagnosis without justification.