A nurse needs to bathe and clean the fractured arm of a client with a bivalved cast. Which of the following actions is most suitable when removing a bivalved cast?
A) Remove both halves of the cast sequentially.
B) Remove one half of the shell.
C) Obtain a sharply defined x-ray of the arm.
D) Assess the fingers for blood circulation.
B
Feedback:
The most important action when removing a bivalved cast is to remove half of the shell temporarily for hygiene and assist the client to a prone position when removing the posterior half of the cast, if approved by the physician. Removing both the casts simultaneously can lead to further injury. A sharp x-ray is obtained when the bivalved cast is created––not when it is removed temporarily. To assess the client's fingers for blood circulation is not necessary when removing a cast.
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