Question

A 4-year-old child sustains a fall at home and is brought to the emergency department by the mother. Following x-ray examination, it has been determined that the child has a fractured arm, and a plaster cast is applied. The nurse provides instructions to the mother regarding cast care for the child. Which statement by the mother indicates a need for further instruction?

a) I will use a hairdryer on the cool setting to dry the cast if it gets wet.
b) I will elevate the casted arm on a pillow to reduce swelling.
c) I will use a soft object, like a ruler, to scratch under the cast if it itches.
d) I will monitor for any signs of infection, such as increased redness or drainage.

Answer 1

The incorrect statement by the mother is c) I will use a soft object, like a ruler, to scratch under the cast if it itches, as this practice is not safe and could disturb the healing process.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mother's statement that indicates a need for further instruction is: c) I will use a soft object, like a ruler, to scratch under the cast if it itches. This is not recommended as inserting objects under the cast can cause injury to the skin and also disrupt the positioning of the fractured bone, potentially interfering with the bone repair process. Instead, the mother can be advised to use techniques such as tapping on the outside of the cast or using a blow dryer on a cool setting to provide relief from itching without compromising the integrity of the cast.

Other care instructions such as using a hairdryer on a cool setting to dry the cast if it gets wet (a), elevating the casted arm on a pillow to reduce swelling (b), and monitoring for any signs of infection, like increased redness or drainage (d), are appropriate and indicate the mother has understood the cast care instructions.