A nurse is caring for a 30-year-old client with a simple fracture in the right hand supported in a plaster cast. What measures must the nurse employ when caring for a client with a cast?

Question

A) Handle the wet cast with fingers only.
B) Avoid washing the area around the cast.
C) To move the arm, grasp on one side of the cast.
D) Cover the edges of the cast with tape.

Answer 1

D
Feedback:
The nurse should cover the edges of the cast with tape if the cast's edges are rough. This procedure is called petaling. When handling a wet cast, the nurse has to hold the cast with the palm of the hand and not the fingers because the finger pressure can dent the cast and can also create pressure points over the cast. The nurse should ensure that the area around the cast is washed, dried, and massaged daily. Monitoring skin condition is a priority. When moving the client's injured arm, the nurse has to ensure that the cast is grasped on both sides, and not on one side only.