Question

A nurse is caring for a school-age child who is in Buck's traction following a leg fracture 24 hr ago. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? a) Change the child's position every 2 hr. b) Clean the peripheral pin sites with chlorhexidine solution every 4 days. c) Assess peripheral pulses once every 4 hr. d) Ensure that the head of the bed is elevated to a 90° angle.

Answer 1

The nurse should change the child's position every 2 hours, assess peripheral pulses every 2 hours, and clean peripheral pin sites daily.

Step-by-step explanation:

When caring for a school-age child in Buck's traction following a leg fracture, the nurse should:

• Change the child's position every 2 hours to promote comfort and prevent complications such as pressure ulcers.
• Assess peripheral pulses once every 2 hours to monitor for any circulatory compromise.
• Clean the peripheral pin sites with chlorhexidine solution every day to prevent infection.

Ensuring that the head of the bed is elevated to a 30° angle is also important to provide adequate traction. However, the option of 90° angle elevation mentioned in option D is incorrect as it is excessive and not recommended.