Author Question: A nurse cares for a client who had a wrist cast applied 3 days ago. The client states, The cast is ... (Read 269 times)

hbsimmons88 · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A nurse cares for a client who had a wrist cast applied 3 days ago. The client states, The cast is loose enough to slide off. How should the nurse respond?

a. Keep your arm above the level of your heart.
b. As your muscles atrophy, the cast is expected to loosen.
c. I will wrap a bandage around the cast to prevent it from slipping.
d. You need a new cast now that the swelling is decreased.

Question 2

A nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from an above-the-knee amputation. The client reports pain in the limb that was removed. How should the nurse respond?

a. The pain you are feeling does not actually exist.
b. This type of pain is common and will eventually go away.
c. Would you like to learn how to use imagery to minimize your pain?
d. How would you describe the pain that you are feeling?

scikid · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Often the surrounding soft tissues may be swollen considerably when the cast is initially applied. After the swelling has resolved, if the cast is loose enough to permit two or more fingers between the cast and the client's skin, the cast needs to be replaced. Elevating the arm will not solve the problem, and the client's muscles should not atrophy while in a cast for 6 weeks or less. An elastic bandage will not prevent slippage of the cast.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
The nurse should ask the client to rate the pain on a scale of 0 to 10 and describe how the pain feels. Although phantom limb pain is common, the nurse should not minimize the pain that the client is experiencing by stating that it does not exist or will eventually go away. Antiepileptic drugs and antispasmodics are used to treat neurologic pain and muscle spasms after amputation. Although imagery may assist the client, the nurse must assess the client's pain before determining the best action.