Question

The nurse is caring for a client who was just admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of a fractured right hip sustained from a fall 5 hours earlier. The nurse develops a plan of care for the client and includes interventions related to monitoring for signs of fat embolism. Which findings should be listed in the care plan as a sign/symptom of fat embolism?

1. Dyspnea and chest pain
2. Fever and chills
3. External rotation of the right leg
4. Pallor, paresthesia, and pulselessness of the right lower leg

Answer 1

In the care plan for a patient with a fractured hip, the nurse should monitor for dyspnea and chest pain as key signs and symptoms of a fat embolism. These indicate a serious complication where fat emboli lodge in the lungs, interfering with oxygen exchange.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should monitor for signs and symptoms of a fat embolism, which is a serious complication that can occur after a long bone fracture, such as a fractured hip. The correct findings to be listed in the care plan related to a fat embolism would include dyspnea (difficulty breathing) and chest pain. These symptoms occur because fat emboli can travel to the lungs and interfere with oxygen exchange. Other symptoms that may accompany fat embolism can include tachypnea (rapid breathing), tachycardia (rapid heart rate), a petechial rash (a rash caused by bleeding into the skin), and neurological symptoms such as confusion or drowsiness due to fat emboli affecting cerebral circulation.

Options 2, 3, and 4, which mention fever and chills, external rotation of the right leg, and pallor, paresthesia, and pulselessness of the right lower leg, are not typically associated with fat embolism. Instead, they might indicate infections, positioning of the fractured hip, or arterial insufficiency, respectively.