Questions: Two days later, Ms. Smith is taken to surgery for repair of the fracture. She returns to the unit with a plaster cast. Which action should be considered when caring for a patient with a plaster cast? Select all that apply. Report any drainage or malodorous discharge from the cast or limb. Encourage the patient to insert a coat hanger into the cast to ease itching. Complete neurovascular checks every 2 hours for the first 24 hours. Use the palms of your hands to touch the cast while still wet or damp. Keep the limb flat on the bed to prevent joint contracture.

$Two days later, Ms. Smith is taken to surgery for repair of the fracture. She returns to the unit with a plaster cast. Which action should be considered when caring for a patient with a plaster cast? Select all that apply. Report any drainage or malodorous discharge from the cast or limb. Encourage the patient to insert a coat hanger into the cast to ease itching. Complete neurovascular checks every 2 hours for the first 24 hours. Use the palms of your hands to touch the cast while still wet or damp. Keep the limb flat on the bed to prevent joint contracture.$

Transcript text: Two days later, Ms. Smith is taken to surgery for repair of the fracture. She returns to the unit with a plaster cast. Which action should be considered when caring for a patient with a plaster cast? Select all that apply. Report any drainage or malodorous discharge from the cast or limb. Encourage the patient to insert a coat hanger into the cast to ease itching. Complete neurovascular checks every 2 hours for the first 24 hours. Use the palms of your hands to touch the cast while still wet or damp. Keep the limb flat on the bed to prevent joint contracture.

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Analyze the options regarding plaster cast care.

We need to identify appropriate nursing actions when caring for a patient with a plaster cast.

Step 2: Evaluate each option.

Report any drainage or malodorous discharge: This is crucial, as it can indicate infection.
Encourage the patient to insert a coat hanger into the cast: This is dangerous and can damage the skin and/or the cast.
Complete neurovascular checks every 2 hours for the first 24 hours: Frequent checks are essential to monitor circulation and nerve function in the affected limb.
Use the palms of your hands to touch the cast while still wet or damp: Using the palms helps prevent indentations in the cast that could create pressure points.
Keep the limb flat on the bed: Elevating the limb is important to reduce swelling, not keeping it flat. However, preventing joint contracture is also important. While the limb may be elevated to reduce swelling, special attention should be paid to the affected joints to prevent contracture. This may necessitate keeping the limb flat at times to perform range-of-motion exercises or other prescribed interventions.

Final Answer:

The correct options are: Report any drainage or malodorous discharge from the cast or limb; Complete neurovascular checks every 2 hours for the first 24 hours; Use the palms of your hands to touch the cast while still wet or damp; and Keep the limb flat on the bed to prevent joint contracture.

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