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

Answer :

A) nurse should assess for pain ,swelling , presence of parasthesia ,paralysis and fracture .

• Advice the mother to immobilized the arm.
• Provide ice packs to limit swelling and relieve pain.
• Provide analgesics to limit the pain.
• Support the arm with cast .
• Check for internal bleeding .
• Check the vital signs .

Discharge instructions :

• Advice for immobilization of part .
• Advice to elevate the arm .
• Advice to take long rest.
• Advice to take medication as prescribed by doctor.
• Advice for follow-up .
• Educate the mother about complications of fracture .
• Educate the mother about compartment syndrome .
• Educate the mother for excercise to maintain health of unaffected muscles for using assistive devices.
• Patient teaching includes self care ,medication information ,monitoring for potential complications and the need for continuing health care supervision.
• Advice do not wet the cast ,it causes rashes, itching and infection at affected area .