The nurse is caring for a patient who has undergone surgery for a broken leg and has a cast in place. What should the nurse do to prevent skin impairment?
a. Assess surfaces exposed to the edges of the cast for pressure areas.
b. Keep the patient's blood pressure low to prevent overperfusion of tissue.
c. Do not allow turning in bed because that may lead to redislocation of the leg.
d. Restrict the patient's dietary intake to reduce the number of times on the bedpan.
ANS: A
Assess surfaces exposed to casts, cloth restraints, bandages and dressings, tubing, or orthopedic devices. An external device applied to or around the skin exerts pressure or friction on the skin, leading to skin impairment. When restricted from moving, dependent body parts are exposed to pressure that reduces circulation to affected tissues, promoting pressure ulcers. Patients with limited caloric and protein intake develop impaired or delayed wound healing. Keeping the blood pressure artificially low may decrease arterial blood supply, leading to ischemia and breakdown.
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