Question

Case Study, Chapter 43, Management of Patients with Musculoskeletal Trauma 1. Melinda Woods, a 14-year-old girl, was on a hiking trip with her family. Melinda slipped on a wet rock and fell on her right arm. She immediately began crying with pain. The skin is intact, but there is an obvious deformity to the right lower arm. Her mother quickly transports her to the emergency room of the local hospital. (Learning Objective 3) a. What are the initial actions of the nurse? b. The fracture is reduced and immobilized by a cast. What discharge instructions will the nurse provide to the patient?

Answer 1

A)IN the above situation the initial action of nurse should be :

1.do the nursing assessment of fracture followed by 5 p's: pallor,pain,pulse,paralysis,paraesthesia of the fractured site.

2.as for melinda the skin in intact so there is no need of dressing for her.after that the nurse should clean the area and immobilize the fractured part with plaster cast with a support with arm sling.

3.the nurse should not try to realign the fractured bone.

4.the nurse should immediately make an iv channel and can give painkillers with antacids for releiving pain for melinda.

B) discharge instructions the nursr can provide are:

1.health education about the care of immobilization device.

2.education about the diet for promoting bone healing faster tht can be calcium rich foods.

3.the nurse can give information about avoiding excessive use of injured part.

4.the nurse can give information regarding the dosage of mefication that melinda has to take daily.

5.the nurse should give health education to melinda for supporting her injured hand with some comfort devices that can be a pillow.