A patient has a long-arm plaster cast applied for immobilization of a fractured left radius. Until the cast has completely dried, the nurse should
a. keep the left arm in dependent position.
b. avoid handling the cast using fingertips.
c. place gauze around the cast edge to pad any roughness.
d. cover the cast with a small blanket to absorb the dampness.
ANS: B
Until a plaster cast has dried, using the palms rather than the fingertips to handle the cast helps prevent creating protrusions inside the cast that could place pressure on the skin. The left arm should be elevated to prevent swelling. The edges of the cast may be petaled once the cast is dry, but padding the edges before that may cause the cast to be misshapen. The cast should not be covered until it is dry because heat builds up during drying.
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