The nurse caring for a patient with an open fracture of the radius is developing a care plan for the patient. The nurse will assign priority to which of the following nursing diagnoses?

Question

A) Risk for infection
B) Risk for activity intolerance
C) Risk for imbalanced nutrition, less than body requirements
D) Risk for powerlessness

Answer 1

Ans: A
Feedback: All of these nursing diagnoses may be pertinent to the care of a patient with an open fracture of the radius, but the highest priority diagnosis is risk for infection of osteomyelitis and tetanus. The objectives of management are to prevent infection of the wound, soft tissue, and bone and to promote healing. Another priority diagnosis for a patient with an open fracture would be risk for peripheral neurovascular dysfunction.