When giving home care instructions to a patient who has comminuted left forearm fractures and a long-arm cast, which information should the nurse include?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Call the health care provider for numbness of the hand. In a patient with comminuted left forearm fractures and a long-arm cast, numbness could indicate compartment syndrome, a serious complication. Prompt intervention is crucial to prevent tissue damage. Keeping the shoulder elevated (A) is important for comfort but not directly related to the fractures. Avoiding NSAIDs (B) is generally recommended for fractures due to their potential to delay healing. Keeping the hand immobile (D) is important, but it does not address the potential emergency situation of developing compartment syndrome.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Correct Answer: B Rationale: 1. Incontinence of urine and stool indicates potential spinal cord injury or nerve compression, requiring immediate evaluation. 2. Choice A is important but does not indicate a life-threatening condition. 3. Choice C is expected with a lumbar vertebral compression fracture and can be managed conservatively. 4. Choice D is relevant for long-term management but does not require immediate intervention.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Logroll the patient every 2 hours. This is crucial for a patient with muscular dystrophy due to their weakened muscles, which can lead to pressure ulcers if not repositioned regularly. Logrolling helps prevent skin breakdown and maintains proper body alignment. Incorrect choices: B: Assisting with ambulation is not appropriate for a patient with muscular dystrophy as they have muscle weakness and mobility limitations. C: Discussing genetic testing may be important for diagnosis but is not a priority during hospitalization for pneumonia. D: Teaching about muscle biopsy is not directly related to the immediate care needs of a patient with pneumonia and muscular dystrophy.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct action before administering gentamicin for a patient with acute osteomyelitis is to review the patient’s serum creatinine (Choice C). This is crucial because gentamicin is nephrotoxic, and assessing the patient's renal function helps to prevent kidney damage. Checking for serum creatinine levels allows the nurse to determine if the patient's kidneys can safely metabolize and excrete the medication without causing harm. Choice A (Ask the patient about any nausea) is not directly related to the safe administration of gentamicin for osteomyelitis. Choice B (Obtain the patient’s oral temperature) is important for monitoring infection but is not specifically required before administering gentamicin. Choice D (Change the prescribed wet-to-dry dressing) is unrelated to medication administration and wound care.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because LPN/LVNs are not typically trained to explain medical tests to patients. LPN/LVNs can administer patch testing, interview patients, and apply sterile dressings under the supervision of a healthcare provider. Explaining medical tests requires a higher level of knowledge and skill, usually performed by registered nurses or healthcare providers. Therefore, delegating the task of explaining potassium hydroxide testing to an LPN/LVN would not be within their scope of practice.