ATI LPN
Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition
Chapter 61 : Caring for Clients Requiring Orthopedic Treatment Questions
Question 1 of 5
The clinic nurse is caring for a client with an injured body part that does not require rigid immobilization. What method of immobilization would the nurse expect the health care provider to use on a short-term basis?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A splint immobilizes and supports an injured body part in a functional position and is used when the condition does not require rigid immobilization, causes a large degree of swelling, or requires special skin treatment. Casts and traction provide rigid immobilization. A brace provides support, controls movement, and prevents additional injury for more long-term use.
Question 2 of 5
A client's cast is removed. The client is worried because the skin appears mottled and is covered with a yellowish crust. What advice should the nurse give the client to address the skin problem?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The client should be advised to apply lotions and take warm baths or soaks. This will help in softening the skin and removing debris. The client usually sheds this residue in a few days so the client need not consult a skin specialist. It is not advisable to scrub the area vigorously. The client need not avoid exposure to direct sunlight because the area is not photosensitive.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client who has had a fracture reduction using a cast. What would be most important for the nurse to assess?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: After cast application, the nurse should assess circulation, sensation, and mobility in exposed fingers and toes every 1 to 2 hours. Assessment of cardiac, respiratory, hepatic, and renal status would be priorities if the client experienced multiple fractures or had an open reduction. The client's sleep status would be a low priority.
Question 4 of 5
During the assessment of a client scheduled for orthopedic surgery, the nurse discovers that the client was previously treated for the disorder. In such a case, what additional data need to be collected?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: If the same disorder has been treated earlier, the nurse needs to determine and document any complications or problems that occurred during treatment. The nurse can determine whether the client understands the treatment or not based on the measures taken by the client to minimize postoperative wound infection. However, this factor can be assessed later because the nurse needs to explain the new treatment to the client. Although the client's perceptions of the previous treatment may be helpful, this data would not be as important. In addition, the nurse does not need to get details about the medical team that handled the previous treatment, unless specifically asked to do so.
Question 5 of 5
A client is scheduled for a joint replacement surgery. Which action would be most important for the nurse to take?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: If a client is scheduled for a joint replacement or other surgery, it is crucial for the nurse to withhold aspirin before surgery to reduce the risk of excessive bleeding. It is also essential to monitor the complete blood count, prothrombin time, bleeding, and clotting time to ensure that the client is able to control bleeding. The impact of fluid or solid food intake does not have as strong implications as the impact of aspirin intake before surgery. Having adequate sleep before surgery is helpful but is not the most important action.