A nurse is caring for a client with a cast on his left leg. Which ...

[Shelles]

A nurse is caring for a client with a cast on his left leg. Which of the following nursing interventions should the nurse perform to prevent the client from being at risk of peripheral neurovascular dysfunction?
 
  A) Elevate the affected leg higher than the client's heart.
  B) Avoid applying ice packs on the affected area.
  C) Tell the client to avoid wiggling his toes.
  D) Encourage the client to eat a diet rich in proteins and calcium.

Question 2

A nurse is helping to remove the leg cast of a client. Which of the following precautions should the nurse take when removing a cast?
 
  A) Bivalve the cast with an electric cutter.
  B) Cut the padding with the electric cutter.
  C) Use a knife or sharp object to split the cast.
  D) Soak the cast in water before cutting.

[SamMuagrove]

Answer to Question 1

A
Feedback:
Elevating the casted leg higher than the client's heart facilitates venous return of blood from distal areas to the heart. Applying ice packs on the cast over the area of injury and refilling the ice bag every 20 minutes helps to reduce swelling and pain. The nurse should ask the client to wiggle the toes of the affected leg every 15 minutes when awake to avoid stiffening. Exercising the toes also contracts the skeletal muscles, thereby compressing the capillaries and veins, which propels venous blood toward the heart. Encouraging the client to eat a healthy diet is important, but not a priority at this stage.

Answer to Question 2

A
Feedback:
Most casts are removed with an electric cast cutteran instrument that looks like a circular saw. The proper use of an electric cast cutter leaves the skin intact. Padding should be cut manually with clean scissors. A blunt knife or forceps should be used to split open the cut cast. A cast is not soaked in water before being cut.