When teaching cast care, the nurse instructs the patient to:

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The patient must monitor neurovascular status, paying particular attention to blueness or paleness of the nails, pain, a feeling of tightness, numbness, or a tingling sensation.Caution the patient against drying a wet cast with a hair dryer; this can cause plaster to crack or the skin underneath to be damaged.The patient should avoid sticking objects down or into the cast to scratch because these objects can cause breaks in underlying skin and subsequent infection.Inform the patient to inspect the cast and petal rough edges to reduce the risk of trauma to underlying skin and the need for cast changes.Small pieces (petals) of adhesive tape 2.5 to 5.0 cm (1 to 2 inches) are cut and taped smoothly over the edge of the cast.

When Teaching Cast Care, the Nurse Instructs the Patient To