Author Question: The home care nurse is caring for a patient with a severe immune deficiency disorder. What ... (Read 78 times)

panfilo · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

The home care nurse is caring for a patient with a severe immune deficiency disorder. What information about infection prevention is most important for the nurse to include in the teaching plan?

a. Check your temperature daily.
b. Wash your hands frequently.
c. Check daily for signs of infection.
d. Seek medical advice at the first sign of infection.

Question 2

A patient in Russell traction with a Pearson attachment for a fracture of the tibia complains of intense pain at the fracture site. The nurse assesses a temperature of 102 F and increased swel-ling at the fracture site.

Which complication do these findings suggest?
a. Osteomyelitis
b. Fat embolism
c. Traction misalignment
d. Nonunion of the fracture

matt · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
In order to prevent infection, meticulous hand hygiene must be practiced. Monitoring the tem-perature, monitoring for signs of infection, and reporting signs of infection to the physician are not preventative measures but early intervention if infection occurs.

Answer to Question 2

A
Osteomyelitis is a bacterial infection of the bone. The causative organism is most often Staphy-lococcus aureus, which enters the bloodstream from a distant focus of infection, such as a boil or furuncle, or from an open wound, as in an open (compound) fracture. It is usually found in the tibia or fibula, in vertebrae, or at the site of a prosthesis. Osteomyelitis has a sudden onset with severe pain and marked tenderness at the site, high fever with chills, swelling of adjacent soft parts, headache, and malaise. These findings are not consistent with fat embolisms, traction mi-salignment, or nonunion of the fracture.