The nurse is monitoring a patient with a casted left tibial fracture and a contusion of the thigh. The patient reports increasing pain in the left foot that has not been relieved by morphine injections. What should the nurse do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Increasing pain in the left foot that is not relieved by morphine injections could indicate compartment syndrome, a serious condition that requires immediate medical intervention. The nurse should ensure that the physician is immediately notified. Repositioning the casted leg or repeating the morphine injection may not address the underlying cause of the increasing pain. Giving a higher ordered dose of morphine may lead to respiratory depression and other adverse effects.

The Nurse Is Monitoring a Patient with a Casted Left